Box Score
WENHAM, Mass. – Gordon Field Hockey's home finale was a family affair, as the Scots hung five points on the scoreboard in a 5-0 win over Nichols (6-12). Sisters Karli and Bailey Balmer (Perkasie, Pa.) were involved in all five goals as the Fighting Scots improved to 9-2 in Commonwealth Coast Conference play.
 
With the second seed in next week's CCC tournament already wrapped up, it would have been easy for the Scots to overlook the visiting Bison. Nichols had a solid conference record coming into the game (6-5), but the Scots had handled the Bison in their first meeting a few weeks ago.
 
Gordon (14-5) controlled the pace of play from the beginning of the game, quickly putting Nichols' keeper Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) to work. Melanson played well for the Bison, wracking up 13 saves in a complete game and kept the Scots off the scoreboard for 21 minutes.
 
However, Gordon's electric offense could only be held down for so long. After putting up six saves in the early minutes, Katherine Bailey (Baltimore, Md.) broke the seal with her seventh goal of the year to end the scoreless tie.
 
The score remained 1-0 at the halftime break.
 
The Scots came out blazing in the second half, netting their second goal of the game less than two minutes after the half. Courtney Scott (Herndon, Pa.) added her 28^th goal of the season off of a cross from Karli Balmer—her second assist of the night.
 
Eight minutes later, Karli Balmer found herself on the other end of the scoring play as she and Scott reversed roles. Scott found the ball in her vicinity off of a penalty corner from Sarah Shannon (Chatham, N.J.). She took a second to think about a shot before pawning the ball off on Balmer, who finished the play with a loud thump against the back of the goal box.
 
Up 3-0, Gordon continued to press the Bison defense and they added to their lead in the 49^th minute. Scott scored her second goal of the night on a pass from Bailey Balmer, which had somehow squirted through the middle of field, right to stick of Scott.
 
Karli Balmer finished off the scoring in the 62^nd minute on a deflected shot, blasting the ball just inside the scoring arch. It was her first multi-goal game of the season.
 
Anny Bury (Huntingtown, Md.) and Shannon Hicks (Scarborough, Maine) split time in goal for the Scots, making two saves in the team's fourth shutout of the year.
 
Gordon closes out its regular season on Saturday with a trip to Newport, R.I. to take on Salve Regina. Nichols finished its regular season play and will have to wait to see how other games play out for their potential bid in the CCC playoffs.