Nashua, NH – Despite being outshot 30-28, the Bison of Nichols College came out on the winning end of tonight's women's lacrosse game against Rivier College by a score of 12-8. Bison goal keeper Mary Michaud (Agawam, MA) was able to make 17 saves on 25 shots on goal to help lead Nichols to the victory.

Nichols went up on the scoreboard early and outshot the Raiders 17-11 in the first half to take a 6-2 halftime lead, however, after a quick halftime break, the Raiders came out of the gate and tied the game at 6-6 within the first 10 minutes of the second half, including 2 goals in the first minute of play. Nichols would regain the lead with a Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, MA) goal and regain control of the match by not giving up the lead again.

Forand led the offense for the Bison with 8 total goals scored, 5 in the first period and 3 in the second. Sophomore Chelsea Shaughnessy (Halifax, MA) scored 2 goal and what would be the eventual game winner for Nichols on an unassisted goal while the Bison were playing with a player down due to a penalty to make the score 9-7 with 10 minutes to play in the game. Lindsay Gustafson (Pepperell, MA) and Emily Yourie Ellington, CT) each added 1 goal for the Bison with Gustafson and Brittany Tremont (Guilford, CT) each adding an assist.

Rivier's leading scorers, Lauren Brett (Otisfield, ME) and Natalie Bonvie (Salem, NH), were able to make their way through the Bison defense time and time again, getting off a combined 18 shots, but the goalkeeping of Michaud was too good as Bonvie could only connect on 4 goals and Brett on 2.  Jordyn Reyes (Amesbury, MA) and Caitlin Gallagher (Billerica, MA) each scored a goal for the Raiders in the defeat while Georgia Steese (Wilmot, NH) and Bridget Emerson (Goffstown, MA) each helped out with an assist.

The Raiders return to conference action on Friday night when they host St. Joseph's College of Maine on senior night for a 7:00 PM game.