Women's Soccer drops fourth straight as they fall to Nichols 3-1

Dudley, MA- Nichols' Taylor Souza netted a hat trick in leading the women's soccer team past visiting MCLA 3-1 this afternoon in a non league matchup.  With the win, the Bison improve to 3-9-1 while the Trailblazers drop their fourth straight tilt and are now 2-7-3 on the season.

Souza got on the board early for Nichols as she scored off a free kick in the 23rd minute giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.  Nichols would outshoot MCLA 7-4 in the half, however it would go into intermission still 1-0.

The Trailblazers would tie the game up just 2:30 into the second half when Natalie Caney sent a cross into the box and Marissa Sprague would clean it up to tie the game at 1-1.  The marker was Sprague's second goal of the season.  

Nichols would respond though, and Souza would ultimately take over.  She scored the eventual game winner in the 68th minute when she lofted a curling shot past MCLA's Megan Richardson making it 2-1 in favor of the hosts.  Souza would put the game away and complete the hat trick late when she would hit home a Kaylin Goncalves cross in the 88th minute making it 3-1.

The Bison controlled the second half as they outshot MCLA 9-3 over the closing 45 minutes of action.  They owned a 16-7 advantage for the game and a 5-1 edge in corners.

Richardson took the loss for MCLA stopping 9 shots while Nichols' Brooke Downey earned the win collecting a pair of saves.

MCLA is back in action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Mass. Maritime to Shewcraft Field for a 1pm tilt.