MARLBORO, Mass. - In the opening round of the Becker College Ice Breaker Tournament, Nichols College scored just 46 seconds into the game en route to a 4-1 victory over Suffolk University Friday night. The Bison will play for the tournament championship Saturday night at 7:45 against the winner of Becker and Wentworth. Sophomore Matt Roberts (Merrimac, Mass.) scored a pair of goals for the Bison (1-0), while forwards Andrew Ella (Schomberg, Ont.) and Zeke Costello (Shelby Township, Mich.) each notched a goal and an assist.

The Bison picked up the offense where they left off last season, lighting the lamp right away as Costello scored on an assist from Anthony Monte (Chicago, Ill.) and Ella. The Bison took a 2-0 lead when Costello returned the favor to Ella, as the rookie netted his first-career tally, a power-play goal with just over three minutes left in the frame.

Suffolk got one back in the middle stanza when Nick Davis notched a power-play score, but Roberts widened the Bison's lead in the third with his pair of goals. Zach Hendrickson (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Cole Ruwe (Pekin, Ill.) set up Roberts 4:42 into the final frame for a 3-1 lead, then the sophomore forward took advantage of an open Suffolk net and planted a shorthanded tally with one second left in the game to cement the win.

Nichols netminder Keith Fink (Easton, Md.) made 16 saves in his first win of the season, while Jeff Rose put aside 32 shots in the losing effort. Suffolk will play in the consolation game Saturday at 4:45. 

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