NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - In the consolation game of the Caryl Newhof Classic on Saturday, the University of Maine at Farmington field hockey team fell at the hands of the Nichols College Bison, 4-1. The teams met in the opening round of the Caryl Newhof Classic a season ago. The Bison went on to win that game, 5-0.

In this year's contest, the Beavers jumped out to an early lead when Gabby Vincentsen (Bristol, Maine) made a fantastic individual effort just 34 seconds into the game to find the back of the cage. After a Bison turnover in the opening moments, the ball squirted to Vincentsen who beat the first defender and raced down the right sideline and into the penalty area where she beat a 2nd defender and was alone with Bison goalie, Sophia Venable. Vincentsen made a dazzling forehand-backhand move to get around the goalie and deposited a backhand shot into the goal, scoring the 1st goal of her collegiate career. 

The Beavers had a fantastic opportunity to double their lead in the 5th minute. Vincentsen once again had the ball on the right wing, beat one defender before centering a pass to sophomore Bayley Casavant (Corinth, Maine), who deflected a pass into the box for fellow sophomore Paris Howes (Jay, Maine), who was all alone with Venable. Venable came off her line to make a kick-save on Howes' shot attempt and keep the Beavers lead at 1-0.

First-year goalie Ella Grant (Sturbridge, Mass.) made several high-quality saves in the 1st half to preserve the Beavers 1-0 lead going into halftime. 

The Bison made some halftime adjustments and were able to ramp up their pressure in the 2nd half, scoring two goals in each the 3rd and 4th periods. 

The Bison knotted up the score just three minutes and 40 seconds into the 2nd half when Callie Worthington intercepted a Beaver clearing attempt and found an open Taylor Breen in front of the goal to tie the game up at one apiece.

The same duo connected once again six minutes later. The Bison won a penalty corner and after the insert, the ball found Katherine Heard who fired a shot that Grant made a kick-save on. But the rebound deflected directly to Worthington who slid a pass around Grant to an open Breen on the goal line who just had to redirect the ball into the goal for the lead.

The Bisons tacked on a pair of goals in the 4th quarter to provide insurance en route to the victory. The first was scored by Sofia Calabro on a rebound after Grant and stoned Breen on a pair of shot attempts. The second came from Breen once again who finished off her hat-trick off an assist from Calabro.

Grant made 16 saves in goal for the Beavers while Venable picked up three for the Bison.

The Beavers begin their season 0-2 as Nichols finishes the first weekend at 1-1.

UP NEXT

The Beavers return to action next Sunday when they take on Mount Holyoke at Thomas College. The game is scheduled for a 12 PM start.