NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Nichols College men's hockey team improved to 10-0 in ECAC Northeast action with a 6-2 win over Johnson & Wales Friday afternoon at the Rhode Island Sports Center. Junior forward Eric Cremer (Chelsea, Mich.) and first-year forward Matt Sayer (Lowell, Mass.) each had a pair of goals for the Bison, who improve to 16-2 overall.

Johnson & Wales (6-8-2, 5-1-2 ECACNE) took the 1-0 lead early in the first period when sophomore Andy Noyes put in a pass from freshman Kyle Botos at the 6:52 mark. The Wildcats would take the 1-0 lead into the locker room after the first period of play despite being outshot 18-6 in the frame.

Nichols responded in the opening stages of the second period when Cremer (tallied a goal at the 1:57 mark to knot the game at 1-1 and the visiting Bison took the 2-1 lead on a power play goal by Sayer midway through the period.

Johnson & Wales would answer with a power play goal of their own off the stick of junior Kevin Marchesi at the 12:46 mark, tying the game at 2-2.

Cremer's second goal of the game at the 13:29 mark gave Nichols the 3-2 lead and the Bison carried it into the locker room after two periods of play.

Nichols pulled ahead 4-2 at the 8:32 mark of the third when senior Anthony Monte (Chicago, Ill.) tallied a power play goal.  Sayer's second goal of the game put the squad up 5-2 and the Bison then took the 6-2 victory when senior Cole Ruwe (Pekin, Ill.) notched a power play goal at the 18:24 mark.

Sophomore JR Woodland had 47 saves in net for Johnson & Wales while first-year netminder Jacob Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) had 21 stops in his second win in as many career starts for Nichols.  

Nichols travels to Matthews Arena Sunday to face Wentworth (8-5-1, 5-1-1 ECACNE) in a 2:15 p.m. game. Fans can follow the game live online with live stats. 

Story courtesy Johnson & Wales Sports Information

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