Hockey Comes up Short against Nichols

EVERETT, Mass. – Zach Vandale scored at 4:26 of the third period to snap a 2-all tie and help the Nichols College men's ice hockey team defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 4-2, in Conference of New England action Friday night.

With the win the bison improve to 7-6-0 overall and 4-4 in CNE play, while the Leopards fall to 3-9-1 (2-7).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Nichols controlled play in the offensive zone early in the contest, with a 5-2 shot advantage through the first five minutes of action.
• At the 5:11 mark, Wentworth was whistled for a penalty and on the Bison's second shot of the man advantage, CJ Zezima scored from Justin Massa and Luca Ricci.
• With 3:56 left in the opening stanza, the Leopards tied the game when Jake Hines worked the puck out of the corner and sent a pass to Nolan Pecora behind the net. Pecora slid a pass in front to Cole Paredes, who notched his first goal of the season.
• Nichols took a 2-1 lead with just 15 seconds left in the period and on the second man advantage of the frame. After Aaron Hamel sent a pass down low to Christian Holden, Holden found Tristan Kimmen, who made it 2-1.
• While the second period saw no scoring, both teams had chances, including when Ryan Henry made a diving save on a Nick Cullinan bid on a two-on-one early in the period.
• Just 27 seconds into the third period, Ian Worthley tied the game for the Black & Gold after Nicholas Ramm sent a pass up top to Desmond Johnson and Johnson tipped the puck to Worthley, who scored this third of the season.
• Vandale put the Bison on top, 3-2, with his goal which came with 15:34 left. However, Wentworth had numerous scoring chances as the period went on.
• Jack McGovern was pulled for an extra attacker with 2:17 left and Wentworth managed to control the puck in the offensive and neutral zones. With 15 seconds left, Gavin Duckworth sealed the win for the Bison when he sent a long shot into the empty net.
• Wentworth had a 33-32 shot advantage with McGovern making 28 saves. Worthley led the team in faceoffs won, winning 16-of-31 draws. Paredes had a team-high seven shots on goal.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Tonight was the 59th all-time meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• The two teams square off again tomorrow in Harrisville, R.I.

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