WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (Dec. 10) - Senior Mandy Manopla, the reigning ECAC East Player of the Week, scored the game-winner with 1:06 remaining in overtime to lift Nichols to a 6-5 triumph over host Williams on Saturday afternoon at the Lansing Chapman Rink in a women's ice hockey non-conference contest. With the win Nichols improves to 4-5-1 as the Ephs slip to 2-4-0.

The victory is the first for newly minted head coach Kyle Daly as the squad ties the program record for wins in a season.

Nichols lit the lamp first as Megan Gerein and Manopla worked the puck up ice, sending the puck to a streaking Hannah Tardif on the right wing. Tardif managed to sneak past an Eph defender, then lifted a shot over the Williams goalie to put the Bison up 1-0 5:28 into play. 

The Ephs again peppered Nichols netminder Tori Gianformaggio with shots, attempting to capitalize on a powerplay, but Gianformaggio was able to deny Williams' shots, and the Ephs could not erase the Bison's lead.

Nichols was able to add to their lead, going ahead 2-0 on a Talia Hohmann tally just over the halfway mark. Rebecca Nguyen was able to turn away the initial shot by Alyssa Bufis at point blank range, but Hohmann picked up the rebound and was able to find the open space.

With 5:11 remaining in the frame, Cristina Bravi won a faceoff deep in the Bison zone. She sent the puck back to Sam Weinstein on the point, who found Kristen Tubbs on the right side. Tubbs wristed a shot from a low angle, which deflected off the netminder and found the net for the powerplay goal. 

The second period would be scoreless until just under a minute remaining, Megan Gerein converted for the shorthand goal, aided by Manopla.  Manopla carried the puck up the right wing and crossed it over to the left wing, allowing Gerein to take a slap shot and send the puck home into the top shelf of the net. 

Just 10 seconds into the final frame, Tubbs struck again to bring the Ephs within one. On a 4-on-4, the Ephs won the faceoff, then carried the puck behind the Bison goal. Alyssa Veil sent a pass to Tubbs on the low left side, who ripped a high shot for her second goal of the game. 

The Bison responded, notching a 4-2 lead after Kerri Nadeau found the open space around Nguyen. Receiving a pass from Bufis, Nadeau sent a shot that found the back of the net with 17:22 remaining in the contest. 

Gabrielle Vukasin was able to take advantage of a 4-on-4 with just over 7 minutes to play. Carrying the puck to the low left side, Vukasin managed to add to her team-leading goal total for her 6th tally of the season. 

Less than 20 seconds later, the Bison found the back of the net for the 5th time, taking the 5-3 lead. Nichols sophomore Bridget Griffin was able to convert on a Lisa Coskren pass for the goal. 

Vukasin would notch her second score of the game with 2:22 remaining to bring the Ephs within one. Bravi carried the puck to the low right side, then crossed a pass to a waiting Bravi on the left side. Vukasin calmly rocketed a shot that eluded Gianformaggio to bring Williams within striking distance, as the Bison now held a 5-4 lead. 

Vukasin notched the game-tying goal for the Ephs with under a minute to play and in the process a hat-trick. With help again coming from Bravi, who added to her team-leading assist total to bring her season tally to 9, Vukasin picked up a deflection and found the back of the net to send the game into overtime. 

Manopla notched her second goal of the game to lift the visitors to the win, picking up the rebound of a Grace Murphy shot to give Nichols the 6-5 overtime win with 1:06 remaining. 

Nichols counterpart Gianformaggio tallied 45 stops in the win as Nguyen finished with 19 saves in the Eph loss.

The Bison travel to South Burlington, Vt. on December 30 and 31 for the Saint Michael's Holiday Classic where the team will face Sacred Heart and Colby.

Box Score

Portions Courtesy Williams Sports Information