DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman Lexi Minicucci (Westfield, Mass.) scored her first two collegiate goals for the Mount Ida College field hockey team, the first of which was the first goal in the history of the program, in a 6-3 loss at Nichols College on Saturday afternoon. 

Minicucci's goal gave Mount Ida a 1-0 lead at 9:52, but Nichols roared back to take a 3-1 lead at the break, and didn't trail again, despite a goal by Mount Ida freshman Hayley Napier (Fairhaven, Mass.). 

Nichols senior Kaylee McNamara (Watertown, Mass.) scored a pair of goals and classmate Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) added a goal and two assists at Vendetti Field. 

Junior Colleen Guthrie (Hamden, Conn.) potted her first collegiate goal as the Bison (1-2) outshot the Mustangs 45-15 on the afternoon. Seniors Jenn Townsend (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Lindsey Rappazzo (Mashpee, Mass.) also collected their first points of the season for Nichols.  

Minicucci opened the scoring at 9:52, scoring in close to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Townsend's first on a one-timer from Orszulak evened the score at one at 12:35 before Orszulak knocked in a rebound less than 10 minutes later to put the Bison in front 2-1. Guthrie's marker off a pass from senior Rachel Dalrymple (Belvidere, N.J.) made it 3-1 at halftime. 

The Mustangs climbed to within one when Napier redirected a pass from Minicucci at 44:21. Two goals from McNamara 48 seconds apart pushed the Nichols lead to 5-2 before Rapazzzo's one-timer found the back of the cage at 60:09. Minicucci's second goal off a rebound at 66:40 closed the scoring. 

Freshman Brenna Santos (East Falmouth, Mass.) stopped 18 Bison shots in goal, while Nichols also held a 29-3 edge in penalty corners.  

Senior Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded nine saves to earn her first win of the season. 

The Mustangs travel to play at Daniel Webster on Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. Nichols hosts Clark (MA) Tuesday at 7 p.m.