LOWELL, Mass. – The Nichols College men's ice hockey team jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on to defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 5-3, in an ECAC Northeast contest played at Tsongas Arena.
With the win the Bison run their win streak to three, improving to 15-5-2 overall and 8-2-1 in league play. The Leopards see their five-game win streak and six-game unbeaten streak come to an end, falling to 9-11-2 (7-4-0).
Nichols wasted little time scoring as freshman Mike Weaver (Wakefield, Mass.) capitalized on a turnover and went in alone at the 2:54 mark. The Bison upped their lead to 2-0 at 6:36 when junior Kyle Shapiro (Ambler, Pa.) tipped a pass to freshman Sean Swansen (Salem, N.H.) who scored a shorthanded goal.
At the 16:44 mark, Nichols increased its lead to 3-0 with a power-play goal from sophomore Sean Fleming (Easthampton, N.J.), which was assisted by senior Greg Strootman (Aston, Pa.) and junior Chris Gularte (Salinas, Calif.).The power-play goal was the first allowed by the Leopards in their last 28 shorthanded situations. After one period the Bison outshot the Leopards by a 12-7 margin.
Just 2:04 into the second stanza the Bison would take a 4-0 lead when sophomore Steve Lecey (Cedarburg, Wisc.) fed junior Mike Schwartz (Long Beach, N.Y.). That goal chased Leopard starter Alex Peck (Kirkland, Que.) from the game in favor of sophomore Joel Miller (Calgary, Alta.)
The Leopards began their comeback attempt at 7:14 when junior Jordan Bourgoje (Spruce Grove, Alta.) scored from senior Andrew Yarber (Livonia, Mich.) and sophomore Jake Diamond (Lakewood, Colo.). Just 37 seconds later junior Kevin Crowe (Galloway, N.J.) scored from freshman Joe Mottiqua (Cecil, Pa.) and junior Mike Domsodi (Kirkland, Que.) to cut the lead in half. Wentworth had a 12-4 shot advantage in the second period.
With each team down a man on matching penalties, Nichols was called for a holding penalty. Just seven seconds into the 4-on-3 situation, Yarber scored off a feed from freshman Jake Flynn (Lino Lakes, Minn.).
Nichols had chances to increase their lead and Wentworth would have chances to tie the game. With 48 seconds left, Miller was pulled for an extra attacker, however the Bison iced the game with 10 second left on an empty-net tally from Strootman, which was assisted by senior Josh DeLoach (Clearwater, Fla.).
Sophomore Alex Larson (Madison, Ala.) made 28 saves to improve to 12-5-2 on the year. Peck made nine saves in 22:04 of work while Miller stopped all 11 shots he faced in 37:18.
Both teams are on the road Saturday as Nichols is at Salve Regina and Wentworth is at Becker.
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Tolan Steps Down as Head Ice Hockey Coach
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March 14, 2014
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March 8, 2014
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March 1, 2014
Tolan, McCracken, Burgau Earn ECAC Northeast Accolades
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ECAC Northeast Tournament Pairings Set
February 22, 2014
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February 20, 2014
Hockey Holds on for Second Straight Win
February 15, 2014
Three-Goal Second Period Pushes Hockey Past Becker
February 11, 2014
Hockey Sees Win Streak Come to an End
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Peck Repeats as ECAC Northeast Goaltender of the Week
January 29, 2014
Hockey Holds on For Second Straight Win
January 25, 2014
Burgau's Overtime Marker Lifts Hockey to 4-3 Win
January 18, 2014
Hockey Draws With Assumption
January 9, 2014
Hockey Suffers 5-1 Setback at Plymouth State
January 3, 2014
Hockey Falls to Salem State
January 2, 2014
Hockey Falls to Colby in Tournament Opener
December 13, 2013
Hockey Closes Out 2013 With Loss at UMass Boston
December 10, 2013
Szerlip Nets Pair in Hockey's Win Over Stonehill
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Late Goal Lifts Trinity Past Hockey
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Hockey Ties Wesleyan, 2-2
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Peck Named ECAC Northeast Goaltender of the Week
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Hockey Edges Salve Regina, 2-1
November 9, 2013
Hockey Tripped up in League Opener
November 6, 2013
Salem State Works Overtime in 2-1 Victory over Hockey
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Third Period Flurry Lifts Hockey to 5-1 Win
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Hockey Falls in Season Opener
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Hockey Picked to Repeat in ECAC Northeast Poll