Nickerson leads defense on clean sheet, nets opening goal

Nickerson led the Skyhawks on both ends of the pitch, netting the opening goal and leading the defensive effort (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

EASTON, Mass. (September 12, 2021) – Stonehill College dominated possession and rode two first half goals to a 2-0 victory over Queens (N.Y.) College in non-conference women's soccer action at Skyhawk Field today. 

Scoring
Peyton Nickerson (STO) 21' – Assist: Megan Giambanco
Taylor Burnham (STO) 39'

Goalkeeping
QUE: Ariana Vargas (45:00) 1 save, 2 goals against; Nikoletta Pravatta (45:00) 3 saves, 0 goals against
STO: Hanna Copley (63:45) 3 saves, 0 goals against; Mia Jackson (26:15) 1 save, 0 goals against

More Stats
Shots: Queens 9, Stonehill 25
Corners: Queens 4, Stonehill 10

Burnham's first career goal doubled the Skyhawks lead late in the first half

How it Happened

• Junior back Peyton Nickerson led Stonehill on both ends of the pitch, leading a stout defensive effort that posted the Skyhawks first clean sheet of the season and then got on the end of a corner kick from senior Megan Giambanco for a header at the far post 20:16 into the match.
• Sophomore Taylor Burnham doubled the Stonehill lead with 6:25 to play in the opening half as she took a pass, two touches in the left channel and then fired in a long-range strike from 25 yards into the right side of the goal.
• Stonehill dominated possession at 58-percent and posted a 25-9 advantage for shots in the match, earning ten corner kicks.
• Junior Hanna Copley made three saves over the opening 64 minutes in goal for Stonehill, before sophomore Mia Jackson made a stop on the ensuing free kick she faced after entering the match but was untested the rest of the way in finishing off the shutout.
• Sophomore Ariana Vargas and senior Nikoletta Pravata split the goalkeeping duties for Queens, with Vargas making a save in the first half, before Pravatta made three stops in the second.

Noteworthy

• Nickerson has scored the opening goal in each of the last two matches to lead Stonehill to a pair of weekend wins – the first two goals of her collegiate career in 15 matches played.
• Burnham scored her first career goal off the bench in just her second appearance for the Skyhawks.
• The shutout is the first of the season in three matches for Stonehill.

Up Next

Stonehill (2-1-0, 1-0-0 NE10) returns to action on Wednesday night, when it visits Franklin Pierce University for an NE10 matchup in Southwestern New Hampshire at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, September 21, to host Saint Michael's College in an NE10 matchup at Skyhawk Field at 4 p.m.

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