Box Score

HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Junior Joe Sposit (Cleveland, Ohio) recorded a hat trick and an assist in Nichols College's 9-1 win over Franklin Pierce University in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast men's ice hockey action Wednesday evening at Levy Rink.

Freshman Louis Abounader (Montreal, Quebec) potted his first two collegiate goals while freshman Rob Belger (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) picked up his first three collegiate points on a goal and two assists as the Bison extended their unbeaten streak to five (4-0-1). Fourteen different student-athletes recorded at least one point for Nichols in its final game of the semester.

Sophomore Tyler Beasley (Indianapolis, Ind.) dished out three apples for Nichols, giving him 16 points (6-10-16) in 10 games this season. Senior captain Greg Strootman (Aston, Pa.) registered a goal and an assist and both senior Rick Batenburg (Loveland, Colo.) and freshman Sean Swansen (Salem, N.H.) each tallied a pair of helpers.

Franklin Pierce senior netminder Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) allowed five goals on 30 shots before being lifted after two periods of play. The Ravens (1-7-1) were outshot 44-20. Junior Tim Sullivan (Rye, N.H.) spoiled the shutout for senior goalie Dylan Woodring (Rogue River, Ore.) with 3:26 remaining in the third. Woodring finished the evening with 19 saves in his first action of the season.

Belger opened the scoring at 16:16 of the first with a wrister from the point that found its way through a screen and past senior Dave O'Brien. In the second, the Bison exploded for four goals – including two in a span of 55 seconds – to break the game open.

Sposit polished off a 3-on-1 with a wrister from the right circle that doubled the Bison lead at 7:39. Less than a minute later, senior captain Josh DeLoach (Tampa, Fla.) fired a slapper from the left point past O'Brien at 8:33. Sposit's second of the night on the power play at 12:02 from Beasley and junior Kyle Shapiro (Ambler, Pa.) made it 4-0 in favor of the Bison before Strootman's second marker of the season less than three minutes later made it 5-0.

Abounader's first-career goal came 3:07 into the third and made it 6-0 in favor of the home team. Sposit capped off the hat trick at 19:11 with assists going to Batenburg and Belger.

The Bison return to action on January 3 with a road game at Skidmore at 7:00 p.m. The Ravens (1-7-1) host Morrisville State Friday at 5:30 p.m.