Box Score
Box Score
POMFRET, Conn.- The Nichols College men's hockey team scored five goals in the third period to earn a 7-3 victory over Johnson & Wales in ECAC Northeast action on Saturday night at Jahn Rink. Junior forward Anthony Monte (Chicago, IL) led the Bison with three points on the night off one goal and two assists. Junior defender Cole Ruwe (Pekin, IL) netted two goals, both coming in the third period while junior Jeff Bieber (Littleton, CO) scored the game-winning goal. The Bison are now 10-3-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play while the Wildcats drop to 4-12 overall and 3-4 in the ECAC Northeast.
Johnson & Wales took advantage of its first power play opportunity 7:08 into the first period. Senior Matt McGilvray (Rochester, NH) netted his 11th goal of the year off passes from sophomore Craig Houle (Burrillville, RI) and senior Ryan Jacobs (Derby, VT). The Bison responded 3:24 later with the help of its freshman class as rookie Jean-Marc Biron (Atlanta, GA) scored his third goal of the season. Classmates Matt Roberts (Merrimac, MA) and Billy Sabia (Ridgefield, CT) assisted on the goal.
The Wildcats went into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead as sophomore Kevin Marchesi (South Portland, ME) got one past Nichols' keeper Keith Fink (Easton, MD) with 6:52 left in the period.
Nichols picked things up in the second period, out-shooting Johnson & Wales 21-10. Junior Glen Cacaro (Sioux Falls, SD) scored the lone goal of the frame with freshman Billy Strain (Providence, RI) picking up the assist.
Ruwe netted his first goal of the game on a power play just 18 seconds into the third period to give Nichols the lead for good. Junior Ryan Gervais (Chicago, IL) and Monte were credited with the assists. Bieber then scored what proved to be the game-winner just over two minutes later. Fink earned the rare goalie assist on the play.
The Wildcats got back within reach at the 7:02 mark as McGilvray's second goal of the night made it a one goal contest but Nichols exploded for three goals in the final 2:45 of the game to earn the 7-3 win. Ruwe initiated the onslot while freshman Will Munson (Corona, CA) and Monte added the two other goals. Freshman John Haley (Shelbourne, VT) assisted on two of the goals.
Fink finished with 29 saves on the night as he now needs just 15 more saves to break the career record at Nichols, which stands at 1,538. The Bison will host Worcester State at Jahn Rink tomorrow night at 8 p.m.
