SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Feb. 18) – Junior forward Matt Sayer (Lowell, Mass.) scored two goals and senior forward Zeke Costello (Shelby Township, Mich.) added three assists as visiting Nichols posted a 5-2 victory over Western New England College in an ECAC Northeast men’s hockey game Thursday night (Feb. 18) at Smead Arena.
Senior forward Eric Cremer (Chelsea, Mich.) contributed a goal and two assist for the Bison who improved their record to 13-9-2 overall and 7-6 in the league. Sophomores Andrew Ella (Schomberg, Ontario) and Zach Hendrickson (Farmingdale, N.Y.) each chipped-in with a goal and assist.
Hendrickson gave Nichols a 1-0 lead at 8:26 of the opening period before the Golden Bears scored twice on goals by sophomore forward Rory Hansen and junior forward Chris Beaudoin in a 1:13 span a little more than midway through the period.
Cremer scored on a power play shot at 12:43 for a 2-2 tie after the opening period. Ella notched the game-winner with an assist from Hendrickson just 33 seconds into the middle stanza.
Sayer tallied twice with 23 seconds left in the second period and 2:19 into the final period with Costello and Cremer assisting both times.
Nichols used three goalies in the first period with sophomore goalie Mike Davis (Newport, Mich.) entering the game after WNEC went ahead. He didn’t allow a goal the rest of the way and finished with 13 saves for his first win of the season.
Freshman T.J, Fatse stopped 36 shots for the Golden Bears who fall to 3-19-1 and 2-11 in the ECAC.
Nichols will vie for home ice in the playoffs in the Bison’s final regular season game on Sunday when they travel to Johnson & Wales for a 5:10 p.m. conference game.
Story courtesy WNEC Sports Information
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