Box Score

HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Junior Daniel Bufis (Linden, N.J.) scored his first goal of the season in Nichols College's 3-2 loss to Johnson & Wales (RI) University in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast action Saturday night at Levy Rink.

Junior Sean Fleming (Easthampton, N.J.) also scored for the Bison, who saw their six-game unbeaten streak snapped and fall to 5-1-1 (3-1-1 ECAC Northeast).  Senior Brett Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) and sophomore Sean Swansen (Salem, N.H.) picked up assists for Nichols, which was outshot 44-41.

Freshman Alan Boozer (Detroit, Mich.) scored his second goal of the game 8:44 into the third period to snap a two-all tie and help the Wildcats (4-2-0, 3-2-0 ECAC Northeast) snap a three-game losing streak to the Bison. Sophomore Joey Ballmer (Kalamazoo, Mich.) stopped 39 shots to earn his fourth win of the season.

Fleming opened the scoring just 1:21 into the contest when he took a pass from Swanson, toe-dragged the puck around a defenseman in the slot, and ripped a wrist shot over the blocker of Ballmer. The Wildcats tied the game seven minutes later as sophomore Connor Bates (Laconia, N.H.) let go of a shot from the right wing boards that hit Boozer in front and snuck past junior netminer Alex Larson (Madison, Ala.).

Less than two minutes later, sophomore Michael Mazzotta (Mars, Pa.) sent a pass from in front of the JWU bench to senior Alex Porrier (Rutland, Vt.), who was skating through the neutral zone. Using a Nichols defenseman as a screen, he sent a wrist shot over Larson's blocker at 9:34 to put the Wildcats ahead 2-1. The Bison nearly got even before the period ended as junior Joe Sposit (Cleveland, Ohio) took a pass up the left wing boards and broke in alone on Ballmer, but his low shot was turned aside.

Nichols drew even in the second courtesy of an individual effort by Bufis while his squad was short-handed. Bufis stole the puck from a JWU defender, circled around the net and wristed a shot high to the short side of Ballmer, inside the left post, at 11:20. In the third, Boozer collected a rebound in front off a shot from sophomore Fran Mackin (Philadelphia, Pa.) and slid it through Larson's legs for the eventual game-winner.

The Bison had several opportunities to pull even with the Wildcats before the final horn. Fleming had a shot on the power play from the left point that struck the left post with five minutes to go. Minutes later, junior Aaron Arm (Plantation, Fla.) received five-and-a-game for contact to the head-elbowing , giving the Bison a power-play for the remainder of regulation. With Larson on the bench to give Nichols a 6-on-4 advantage, the Bison had several shots blocked before junior Paul Prescott (Oakdale, Minn.) saw his one-timer from the slot stopped by Ballmer.

Each team failed to score with the man advantage as Nichols went 0-for-6 and JWU was 0-for-5. Larson finished the night with 41 saves.

Nichols plays Assumption in the Worcester City Shootout November 28 at 4 p.m. The Wildcats host Assumption Tuesday at 7:10 pm.