Box Score
DUDLEY, Mass. — Despite a game-tying goal in the third quarter from junior forward
Grace Barlage (Guilford), the Warriors fell 2-1 in overtime to Nichols College, Tuesday evening at Vendetti Field.
Game Information:
- Score: Nichols 2, Eastern 1 (OT)
- Records: Eastern (2-4), Nichols (2-4)
- Location: Dudley, Mass. (Vendetti Field)
Key Moments:
- Nichols opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Merle Steinau connected on a pass from Taylor Breen to give the Bison a 1-0 lead.
- Eastern drew a tie in the 38th minute as Barlage buried her fourth shot on goal of the game, finishing off a setup from Rebecca Minaya (Stafford).
- The Warriors were issued a green card in the 35th minute when forward Audrey Molin (Vernon) was booked, the lone card of the match.
- Nichols applied pressure in the fourth, firing six shots and forcing three Warrior saves from goalkeeper Veronica McKenna (Wethersfield).
- In overtime, the Bison capitalized as Emma Bianculli slotted home the golden goal off a feed from Sofia Calabro in the 66th minute.
Scoring Summary:
- 16:54 – Nichols: Merle Steinau (assist Taylor Breen)
- 38:21 – Eastern: Grace Barlage (assist Rebecca Minaya)
- 65:44 – Nichols: Emma Bianculli (assist Sofia Calabro) | Overtime game-winner
Game Notes:
- Both teams finished with 16 shots apiece.
- Eastern held a decisive 18–5 edge in penalty corners.
- Barlage led all players with nine shots, including four on goal.
- Eastern split time in net: Hannah Jalowiec (Cheshire) with one save and one goal allowed in her first start of the season (third appearance), and McKenna (2-4) gathered six saves and one goal allowed in the final 35 minutes in taking the loss. She has appeared in all six matches, making her first relief appearance of the year against Nichols.
- Nichols goalkeeper Jessa Altemose matched with seven saves on the night.
- Eastern had won the first two matches in the series, including 5-2 in its other previous appearance at Dudley in 2023.
Next Up:
The Warriors face RPI (3-2), Saturday at 1:00 PM EST at Troy, NY. The Engineers have won both meetings in the all-time series, 2-1 at Troy in 2023 and 3-1 at Rick McCarthy Field last year. RPI is coming off an 8-1 home win over Utica College and will visit Russel Sage College Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Albany, NY prior to hosting the Warriors.
