PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – Freshman Oliver Arnberg scored a pair of goals to lift the Nichols College men's ice hockey team past top-seeded Salve Regina 5-4 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinal action Saturday afternoon at Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink.
 
Sophomore Hogan Davidson scored the game-winning goal with 5:41 remaining in regulation, junior T.J. Roche handed out two assists, and senior goaltender Colin Brennan stopped 37 shots for the Bison, who now head to the conference championship game for the third time in five seasons, where they will meet No. 3 seeded University of New England. The win also marked their second over a top-five opponent this season, having previously knocked off then-No. 2 Endicott 6-1 in January.

After being blanked in both meetings with the Seahawks during the regular season, the Bison struck for a pair of first-period goals. Arnberg opened the scoring at 10:28, capitalizing on a SRU turnover to net his fifth of the season. Less than four minutes later, senior captain Scott Cuthrell doubled the lead with his 10th of the season.

Nichols extended its lead to 3-0 on a goal from sophomore Nicholas Mangone midway through the second. Freshman Paul Boutoussov got the Seahawks on the board with a goal at 15:19 of the second to close the scoring in the middle stanza with NC ahead 3-1.

Arnberg's second tally of the game 1:49 into the third pushed the Nichols' lead back to three at 4-1. Salve Regina responded with three goals in less than six minutes to even the score at four, the tying goal coming off the stick of freshman John McLean at 11:47. Facing a heavy push from the SRU offense, the Bison withstood the onslaught and countered with a goal of their own, this one coming off the stick of Davidson. Freshman Filip Virgili and Roche were credited with assists on the GWG.

Junior and CCC Goaltender of the Year Blake Wojtala made 20 saves for Salve Regina, which will await to see if it will receive an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the winner of the Bison and Nor'easters tilt will receive the conference's automatic berth into the tournament.

All-Time Series
Today's contest marks the 39th all-time meeting between Nichols College and Salve Regina University. With the win, the Bison are now 21-14-4 lifetime against the Seahawks, 5-3-3 in the last 11 meetings, and 2-1 in the playoffs over the last four years.