BRISTOL, R.I. – Amelia Monahan (Bristol, N.H.) scored a pair of goals while Callie Flanagan (Wenham, Mass.) handled her eighth career shutout as the Roger Williams University Field Hockey team claimed their first conference victory of the season, beating Nichols College, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at Bayside Field. Monahan scored two more goals on the day bringing her season total to seven, a mark that is good for the third most by a freshman in program history.
 
With the win, the Hawks improve to 5-2 on the season, and 1-1 in Commonwealth Coast Conference play. On the other side, the Bison drop to 5-4, including 0-2 against CCC competition.
 
It was the third multi-goal performance on the season for Monahan who has led the RWU offensive attack and paces the team in goals scored and assists in her first season in Bristol.
 
In goal, Flanagan did not face a shot on goal but nonetheless posted her second shutout of the season and improved to 5-2 in the cage for the Hawks. For Nichols it was Sophia Venable (Troy, N.Y.) who was under constant pressure and allowed two scores despite making 12 saves, and as a result she fell to 5-4 in goal on the season.
 
Hawk Highlights
Amelia Monahan: 2 goals (GW), 9 shots, 5 shots on goal
Hannah Palmer: 1 assist, 3 shots, 3 shots on goal
Ella Waryas: 1 assist, 2 shots
 
Callie Flanagan: 0 saves, 0 goals allowed, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
For The Opponents
Sam Ahaesy: 1 shot
Dana Edwards: 1 shot
 
Sophia Venable: 12 saves, 2 goals allowed, 60:00 minutes in goal
 
How It Happened
Nichols played strong defensively throughout this contest but failed to generate any real pressure against the Roger Williams defense. Despite the Hawks outshooting the Bison, 7-1 in the first quarter, the game was tied at zero.
 
That would change early in the second quarter, however, as the Hawks broke the scoreless tie in the 17^th minute. Hannah Palmer (Essex Junction, Vt.) controlled the ball near the top of the arch, spun, and smacked a shot towards the net where Amelia Monahan (Bristol, N.H.) was positioned and she redirected it into bottom right corner of the cage for her sixth score of the season.
 
In the first half, RWU outshot the Bison 15-1 overall and took seven shots on goal against none for the guests. Additionally, the Hawks had the only six penalty corners of the half.
 
Roger Williams tacked on an insurance tally in the 42^nd minute. The Hawks had a penalty corner and it originally looked as though they would not be able to take advantage of it, but the ball found its way to Ella Waryas (Foxboro, Mass.) at the top left of the arch, and she passed it to Monahan who did the rest. She spun off the defender and snuck the ball between the legs of Nichols goalkeeper Sophia Venable (Troy, N.Y.) for her second score of the contest.
 
The visitors nearly got one back at the end of the third quarter as the ball did make it into the back of the RWU goal, however, it was ruled that the score came after time had expired in the frame and the Hawks shutout was preserved.
 
Roger Williams maintained offensive pressure in the second half outshooting the Bison, 8-1, including 7-0 in shots on goal.
 
Overall, Roger Williams shutdown any scoring chances for Nichols while creating an abundance of chances for themselves. They finished the game with more shots, 23-2, shots on goal, 14-0, and penalty corners, 12-0, and in the end, they got the win over Nichols for the ninth time in their last 11 meetings.
 
What's Next
The Hawks hit the road for the first time in two weeks as they travel up to the state capitol to dual Johnson & Wales for a nonconference showdown in Providence. Start time is slated for 4:00.