HARRISVILLE, R.I. (Nov. 18) – Becker College sophomore forward Robert Johnson scored a pair of goals as the Hawks defeated Nichols, 3-1, in an ECAC Northeast game at Levy Rink Wednesday evening. Becker improves to 2-2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Nichols evens out at 1-1-1 overall after dropping its conference opener.
Johnson put the Hawks on the board less than four minutes into the opening frame with a wrister at the doorstep. Derek Stabile fired a slapshot from the point that deflected out to Kevin Coyne. Coyne slipped the puck across the open net to Johnson, who wristed in his first of the night at 3:04.
Don Kane took a big shot from the left point that found the stick of Ron Paiva for a quick pass to Patrick Bellew late in the opening frame to give Becker a 2-0 lead. Bellew fired a high shot that deflected off a Nichols player at 15:40, giving the Hawks their lone power play goal in five opportunities on the night.
Johnson edged Becker's lead to three goals late in the second period, converting on the Hawks' third breakaway of the frame after collecting a breakout pass from Nate Sayer before skating in alone and slipping the puck under the pads of Nichols goalie Ryan Casey (Pelham, N.H.). Jim Ceglarek (got things started with a long pass deep out of the Hawks' zone to Sayer, who corralled the puck before moving it to center ice and sending Johnson on his way.
Nichols came out firing in the final stanza, and finally converted off the stick of first year Zach Kohn (Hartland, Wis.) at 7:13. Dustin Skinner (Andover, Minn.) skated the puck out from behind the net and found Kohn in the slot for a high wrister that beat Becker netminder Jake Rosenthal on his glove side.
Rosenthal came away with the win making 32 saves, including 19 in the middle frame. Casey finished with 29 saves for Nichols, who could not convert on six power play opportunities.
The Bison are back in action on Saturday in a 2:45 p.m. ECAC Northeast game at Salve Regina. Becker hosts ECAC Northeast preseason favorite Curry Saturday at 5:10 p.m.
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