DUDLEY, Mass. – Roger Williams junior Katie Lydon (Riverside, R.I.) scored a hat-trick to help propel the Hawks past host Nichols in a Commonwealth Coast Conference women's soccer match under the lights at Michael J. Vendetti Field.

With the win Roger Williams, the 10th-ranked team in NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Women's New England Regional poll, improves to 3-3-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the conference while the Bison dip to 2-4-2 on the season and 0-2-0 in the loop.

The Nichols defense and goalkeeping turned in a solid effort early in the match highlighted by a pair of stops by first-year goalkeeper Erica Carey (South Windsor, Conn.). In the 19th minute freshman Mariah Kaiser (Portsmouth, R.I.) had a one-on-one opportunity dismissed by Carey.

With 13:26 left in the opening frame, Carey deflected a shot by Kaiser as the ball would take a bounce over the net. Just over two minutes later Lydon deposited a rebound that initially hit the post on a shot taken by Kaiser. Lydon struck once more before the break as she found the upper left corner of the net at 39:46.

Freshman Devon Wolfenden (East Longmeadow, Mass.) sent a cross to classmate Taylor Provost (Peabody, Mass.) who threaded the ball through traffic to put the visitors on top 3-0 in the 55th minute. Lydon finished off the hat-trick as she found the back of the net at 67:21. First-year Abbigail White (Wells, Maine) broke up the shutout as the scoreboard showed 25 minutes remaining in the contest.

Junior Stephanie Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) was called upon to make one save in the win for the Hawks. Carey shared duties with rookie Melissa Toomey (Saugus, Mass.) as the Bison pairing amassed 13 saves on the night.

“We started very well; it could have been 3-nil for us in the first five minutes,” said Head Coach Tim Moody. “We got the ball into some good areas, but just lacked the finishing touch. We were very lively up top and were causing them lots of problems. Hannah had to go off injured after 18 minutes and we had to reshuffle and bring on Haley. We continued to dominate possession and eventually made that tell. Haley was linking up well with the midfield and Mariah was getting in behind there back line.”

“A great cross from Devon found Mariah on the 6-yard box; her header hit the post and Katie followed in, to make it one-nil for RWU. Shortly after that Mariah hit the post again. Then Katie picked her second with a great strike into the top left-hand corner after receiving the ball from Haley.

“Their keeper kept them in the game in the first half making many top-class saves. We could easily have scored six, had she not been in great form. From a Katie corner we picked up the third goal, when Taylor redirected the kick towards Devon, who spun and finished low and hard into the bottom left hand corner.

“Katie picked up the hat-trick with another strike from distance, and after a lay-off from Jessie. We didn't play as well as we did against Clark. However, tonight we scored goals and created a lot of quality scoring opportunities. It was important to win the game and stay at least tied at the top of the conference for another week.

“Considering we have a completely new team from last season, we are very happy with how we are competing with every team we have played. We have been good to watch and the new players are playing their part. The addition of Katie Lydon, who transferred from a DII school, could be the key. Her experience and ability has helped with graduating almost an entire team last fall who won three CCC titles in four years. She has fitted in like a glove and team absolutely love her. She is a true team player. We would like more players like her to come in our direction next season.”

In a scheduling oddity, both teams are off until Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Nichols ventures to Fitchburg State and Roger Williams heads to Bridgewater State.

- Release courtesy of the Nichols College Sports Information Department