DUDLEY, Mass. – A goal in the 104^th minute lifted top-seeded Nichols College to the 2-1 victory in the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship on a chilly Saturday evening. Nichols' sophomore Ian Miller (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored his third goal of the season in double-overtime to lead the Nichols College men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Gordon College in the CCC Championship match Saturday evening at Vendetti Field.
 
With the win, this Bison (14-2-4) advance to their second NCAA tournament in school history. The last time the Bison won the conference championship was in 2010, when they defeated the Fighting Scots in penalty kicks after playing to a 1-1 tie.
 
Gordon sought revenge on the Bison after Nichols handed the Fighting Scots a 1-0 loss in the regular season matchup in Wenham. The Fighting Scots had dominated the game throughout, but a late goal on a set-piece was the difference in the contest. Nichols also managed a season-high and improbable four team saves to keep Gordon's offense at bay. The game ultimately cost the Fighting Scots a chance at hosting the championship game.
 
Nichols dominated play in the first half of Saturday's matchup, a game that would decide an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bison pressured and prodded Gordon's defense to the tune of eight shots in the first half, four of which were on frame. Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.) was sharp for Gordon, making several impressive stops on clear looks by the Bison—including a breakaway chance early in the game. Spoonhour had four first-half saves to keep the game scoreless through 45 minutes.
  
The defensive battle continued well into the second half until the 77^th minute when Gordon freshman John Schwien (Garnet Valley, Pa.) sent a free kick into the box. Sophomore Aaron Terjanian (West Chester, Pa.) headed it over the outstretched hands of senior goaltender Jeremy Nash (West Springfield, Mass.) and into the top left corner of the net to put the No. 2-seed Fighting Scots up 1-0.
 
Terjanian looked to deliver the knockout punch just four minutes later when he got past the final defender and powered a shot to the right corner of goal. The Fighting Scots prepared to restart play when the call was reversed by the head official due to Terjanian's physicality on the play. Gordon's lead was reduced back to one goal, as the Fighting Scots attempted to hold on for the final eight minutes.
 
The Bison – who finished the contest with a 21-11 edge in shots – rallied to tie the game in the 85^th minute on a play from 35 yards out. Sophomore David Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) sent a free kick from the right side of the field towards the box, and junior captain Patrick DeRosa (Lynnfield, Mass.) was able to get a head on it and flick it past sophomore goalkeeper Spoonhour to tie things up at a goal apiece.
 
CCC Rookie of the Year freshman Rielee Mohsin (Stuart, Fla.) led all student-athletes with five shots while Melanson chipped in three. The Fighting Scots were paced by Terjanian with four shots.
 
Nash stopped five shots and improved to 9-1-3 on the season. Spoonhour made eight saves and falls to 12-5-2 on the year.
 
The Bison now wait for the NCAA Selection Show on Monday to see who and where they will play next week in the NCAA Tournament. Gordon (14-5-2) will wait to see if they receive an at-large berth.


Portions of the release courtesy of Nichols Sports Info