Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass.-  Sophomore Sean Fleming (Eastampton, N.J.) picked up two goals - including the game-winning goal with 57 seconds remaining in overtime - to lead the Nichols College men's ice hockey team to a 4-3 win at Assumption Sunday evening at Charles J. Buffone Arena.

Freshman Mike Weaver (Wakefield, Mass.) got things started at 15:17 of the first period netting his third goal in as many games. Senior captain Greg Strootman (Aston, Pa.) and junior Brett Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) were both credited with assists on the play.

The Bison and the Greyhounds went back and forth in the second period.  Freshman Paul Amarone (Hamden, Conn.) put Assumption on the board, slipping one past sophomore Patrick Salkind (Springfield, Va.) and evening up the score. Senior defensemen Matt Calos (North Reading, Mass.) was credited with an assist on the play.

Nichols (10-4-2) answered at 18:36 on the power play as junior Mike Schwartz (Long Beach, N.Y.) bested senior net-minder Bobby Bowden (Springfield, Mass.) to give the Bison the lead back.  Sophomore's Tyler Beasley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Paul Prescott (Oakdale, Minn.) tallied an assist on the play.

Assumption (3-11-1) evened things up with only one second to go in the period as freshman Ryan Gomez (Wayne, N.J.) scored his fourth goal of the year. Calos and senior Nick Mattiello (Johnston, R.I.) both assisted on the play.

The back-and-forth play continued in the third period as sophomore Fleming put the Bison back on top, 3-2. Junior Evan Jones (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and sophomore Daniel Bufis (Linden, N.J.) were credited with assists.

The Greyhounds answered back with more late period heroics. The Bison received a two-minute minor for having too many players on the ice at 19:18 which allowed Assumption to play a man up. Eleven seconds later, sophomore Brandon Bete (Greenfield, Mass.) received a pass from senior Kyle Zobler (Millbury, Mass.) and bested Salkind to send the game to overtime.

The Bison provided some late heroics of their own, scoring with less than a minute remaining in overtime. Fleming picked up his sixth goal of the season, and second game-winning goal (1/11 vs. Morrisville St.). Freshman Sean Swansen (Salem, N.H.) picked up an assist on the goal.

Salkind picked up 36 saves on his way to his first win of the season.  Nichols outshot the Greyhounds 40-39.

Nichols return to conference action on Saturday when it plays host to Salve Regina at 7:40 p.m. Assumption host Stonehill on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.