Box Score HARRISVILLE, R.I. (Nov. 6) – The UMass Boston women's ice hockey team edged Nichols, 2-1, in an ECAC Women's East game at June Rockwell Levy Community Rink Saturday evening. The Beacons improve to 1-1 overall and in conference play while the Bison dip to 0-2 both overall and in league play.

The Beacons took a first period lead when Rachel Sousa chipped the puck out of the UMass Boston zone to Lauren Duran, who skated it all the way down before her shot deflected off a Nichols skater and past Bison goaltender Francesca Palazzo (Bernardston, Mass.) at 7:14.

SueEllen Nault (Goffstown, N.H.) evened the score just past the midpoint of the opening frame. She picked off a neutral zone pass and skated it in unopposed before banking it in off the crossbar at 11:21.

The Bison fought off a five-on-three in the middle frame and had a short-handed chance when Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) returned from the first penalty and skated in on a two-on-one with Megan Gerein (Dubuque, Iowa).

Sousa scored the game-winner in the third period with a low-angle one-timer that snuck past Palazzo at 3:50. Brittany Usmail sent the pass down from the right faceoff dot to Sousa below the circle for the assist.

Nichols had a late power play and pulled the goalie for the final 30 seconds but could not convert.
UMass Boston netminder Leah Hallett made 13 saves. Palazzo finished with 27. Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play.

Nichols is back in action on Tuesday, November 9 in a 7 p.m. game at Manhattanville.

Box Score