Box Score BURRILLVILLE, R.I. – The Nichols College women's ice hockey team wrapped up its fifth season with a 4-1 setback to Division I Holy Cross on Wednesday night in an ECAC Women's East contest at Levy RInk.

"In the final game on the season, the team honored their two seniors by playing together with passion, drive, and intensity, commented head coach Jillian Campbell. "We executed some of the nicest plays we have made all season and really came together with great team energy."
 
Crusader senior Caroline English (Dorchester, Mass.) led the way with a pair of goals and an assist while classmate Alex Campione (Townsend, Mass.) notched a trio of helpers. Senior Rebecca O'Quinn (Arlington, Mass.) pitched in with a tally and an assist as sophomore goaltender Alex Stevenson (Norwood, Mass.) stopped 32 shots for the Crusaders.
 
Nichols sophomore Grace Murphy (Montclair, Va.) snapped a four-game scoring drought to notch her 15th goal of the season and set the new program benchmark for goals in a season. The tally also put her in a tie on the Bison leaderboard for points in a single season (22). Junior netminder Francesca Palazzo (Bernardston, Mass.) collected 29 saves for the hosts.

"It was great to see Grace break through with a goal and make a mark in the record book," added Campbell. 
 
The Crusader senior line dented the scoreboard at 7:47 into the contest as English deposited a rebound for the 1-0 lead. Holy Cross enjoyed a 13-9 advantage in shots after 20 minutes of action as each team was unable to capitalize on a power play chance.
 
Following the break, Nichols looked to take advantage of a pair of power play opportunities to even the game as six of the 11 shots on goal were taken with extra personnel on the ice. Crusader sophomore Rebecca Fleming (Newton, Mass.) tacked on a second goal for the visitors as she beat the Bison goaltender in a one-on-one battle with 2:55 left in the period. For the stanza, Nichols held a slim 11-10 edge in shots and went 0-for-2 on the power play.
 
At the 7:12 mark in the third, O'Quinn found the back of the net as the entire forward line teamed up for their second point of the night. Murphy later put the Bison on the scoreboard with a shorthanded rebound goal at 13:46. English then scored with 26 ticks left as she took advantage of an empty net off a pass from Campione to seal the 4-1 victory. Nichols outshot the Crusaders 13-10 in the period and had a pair of power play chances as the visitors went 1-for-4 in the stanza.
 
Both teams fired off 33 shots as the Bison targeted the net 15 times on five power play chances. Holy Cross finished the game 1-for-5 with extra personnel.
 
The game marked the final game for senior captain Mary Fehr (Leamington, Ontario) and Stacey McGrath (Buffalo, N.Y.) who were honored prior to the game with a senior day ceremony.

"Stacey and Mary have been wonderful seniors on and off the ice and we will miss them next year," said Campbell.
 
Nichols ends the season with a 4-20-1 ledger overall and a 2-15-1 mark in ECAC Women's East play. Holy Cross (15-5-5, 9-4-5 ECACE) ventures to Bridgeport, Conn. for the ECAC Open Tournament this weekend.