Box Score

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. – Sophomore Grace Murphy (Montclair, Va.) snapped a 2-2 tie with 2:33 left in overtime as the Nichols College women's ice hockey team ended a 10-game drought with a 3-2 victory over visiting Saint Michael's in an ECAC Women's East matchup on Friday night at Levy Rink.
 
The Purple Knights were whistled for interference 35 seconds into the extra session to help set the stage for a Nichols power play goal with nine seconds showing on the penalty clock as Murphy deposited a rebound off a shot initially taken by sophomore Lisa Coskren (Norwood, Mass.). Junior Megan Gerein (Dubuque, Iowa) was also credited with a helper as she setup Coskren's shot. The Bison took all seven shots following regulation.
 
Murphy quickly gave the Bison a 1-0 lead as she banged home a rebound just 55 seconds into the game with help from Coskren and Gerein. Saint Michael's knotted the game at 1-all at the 11:28 mark as senior Madelena Santore (Millington, N.J.) tipped in senior Laura Levin's (Hingham, Mass.) shot from the point. The visitors took a 2-1 lead 2:22 later as senior Melissa Hallisey (Dedham, Mass.) capitalized on a breakaway for an unassisted shorthanded tally. Saint Michael's had a pair of power play chances while the Bison had one.
 
Each team had a two-minute opportunity in the second as the Purple Knights held on to the 2-1 advantage.
 
Coskren tied the game at 2-2 with 3:38 left in the third period. Murphy and Gerein also picked up an assist for Nichols. The hosts had the only power play chance in the frame.
 
For the contest, Nichols went 1-for-5 with extra personnel while Saint Michael's notched a shorthanded goal and finished 0-for-2 on the power play.
 
First-year Bison goaltender Nia Kelly (Cary, N.C.) was called upon to make 14 stops while senior Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn.) made an eye-popping 50 stops for the Purple Knights.
 
Nichols (3-10-0, 1-8-0 ECACE) hosts No. 5 Norwich tomorrow night at 7:40 p.m. while Saint Michael's (1-13-1, 1-10-0 ECACE) travels to No. 9 Manhattanville (Terry Conners Rink, Stamford, Conn.) for a 1:30 p.m. matinee.