HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Sophomore Matthew Menta (Lime, Pa.) scored the game-winning goal 2:25 into the third period for the Nichols College men's ice hockey team, which defeated Becker College 3-1 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinal action Saturday afternoon at Levy Rink.
 
Freshman and CCC Rookie of the Year J.B. Baker (Columbia, Md.) set up Menta's seventh goal of the season and also scored an empty-net goal with 30 seconds remaining in the third as the Bison advanced to the semifinals for the sixth-consecutive season. Sophomore and CCC Third Team pick Ian Spencer (Hawthorne, N.J.) scored the other Nichols goal.
 
Senior Tyler Stepke (Mars, Pa.) turned aside 48 shots in his final collegiate game for the Hawks, who saw senior Nicholas McKee (Bakersfield, Calif.) score his fifth goal of the season. The No. 7 seed Hawks went 0-for-4 on the power play.
 
Following a scoreless period in which Nichols outshot Becker 14-9, Spencer opened the scoring at 13:06 on the power play with assists going to freshman Vincent Crivello (Rosemere, Quebec) and sophomore Ben Campbell (Duluth, Minn.). Becker evened the score just over five minutes later when McKee scored at 18:19.
 
In the third, Baker fed a pass to Menta in the left circle and, once he collected the puck, let go of a wrister that beat Stepke high to give the No. 2 seed Bison a 2-1 lead. Baker sealed the win at 19:30 when he led the puck into the empty net on a breakaway.
 
Junior Colin Brennan (Chester, Pa.) made 22 saves to earn his 12th win of the season. Nichols was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
 
All-Time Series
Today's playoff contest marked the 28th all-time meeting between the two Worcester-area rivals, with Nichols now holding a 17-9-2 edge. They have eliminated the Hawks from the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

Next Games
Nichols (15-6-5) – Wednesday, March 1 vs UNE, 7:00 p.m. (CCC Semifinal)
Becker (6-19-1) – Season Complete