DUDLEY, Mass. -- The Simmons University field hockey team was defeated by host Nichols College, 3-0, this afternoon at Vendetti Field in Dudley, Mass. The Sharks fall to 4-10 on the season, while the Bison improve to 7-6.

Nichols made the most of its shots, while holding a 13-10 shot advantage and a 9-6 margin on penalty corners.

Sophomore midfielder Lizz McKinnon (Quincy, Mass.) recorded a hat trick, scoring all three goals to lead the Bison.

McKinnon's first marker came just 6:18 into the contest when sophomore forward Carlee Trolley (Chatham, Mass.) found her for a 1-0 Nichols lead. McKinnon's second tally gave the Bison a 2-0 margin with just 4:36 remaining in the opening half on a feed from junior midfielder Erin Kelley (Dighton, Mass.). McKinnon's third goal of the match capped the scoring at 3-0 with 10:36 left in the game.

Junior forward Olivia Trull (Lowell, Mass.) and first year midfielder Emily Plummer (San Diego, Calif.) led the Sharks offense with three shots apiece.

Sophomore goalie Lucy McNamara (Brewster, Mass.) registered eight saves for Simmons, while junior keeper Brooke Misbach (Guilford, Conn.) stopped six shots to earn her second shutout of the season for Nichols. 

The Sharks return to action on Tuesday, October 16 when they host Great Northeast Athletic Conference rival Regis (Mass.) at Daly Field for a 7:00 p.m. start, while the Bison head to Biddeford, Maine to take on University of New England in a Commonwealth Coast Conference match at 4:00 p.m.