NEWTON, Mass. – Sarah Hemstock's (Northford, Conn.) first collegiate goal cut the Mount Ida deficit to just two but that was as close as they could get as visiting Nichols College scored 4-1 victory in non-conference field hockey action on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The freshman midfielder's goal, the first of the year for Mount Ida (0-2), came at the 50:52 mark after Nichols had opened up a 3-0 advantage heading into the break, en route to their first win of the year (1-1).
Senior Victoria Utter (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and sophomore Brianna Kilborn (North Brookfield, Mass.) each scored twice for the Bison, who got three markers in a span of ten minutes in the heart of the opening half.
Kilborn opened the scoring by tipping home her first goal of the year in the 17th minute, then Utter scored in the 22nd and 27th minutes, first finishing from a crowd in front of the net at close range, and then collecting a rebound and slotting it home for her second goal of the year.
Hemstock pulled back a goal for Mount Ida, scoring from a tough angle on the left side of the end line fifteen minutes into the second half, but Kilborn answered with three minutes to play when she outmaneuvered the Mustang defense on a breakaway and followed up her own shot.
Mount Ida's best change of the first half came in its waning moments, as sophomore Lexi Minicucci (Westfield, Mass.) had a snap shot on goal that was thwarted by a brilliant defensive save from Nichols junior Brooke Marion (South Hadley, Mass.).
Minicucci had 11 of Mount Ida's 17 shots on goal, and the Mustangs forced six saves out of junior keeper Ariana Beauregard (Coventry, R.I.).
The Mustangs had much better possession in the second half, earning an 11-4 shot advantage and a 5-3 edge in penalty corners after the break.
Sophomore Emily McConnell (Lowell, Mass.) made two saves in net for the Green and White.
Mount Ida has a five day layover to prepare for their next game, a home contest against Becker on September 8th at 7:00 pm, their first night game of the young season.
The Bison will return to Vendetti Field to host Thomas this Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm.