Recap
Freshman netminder Brett Epp turned aside 41 shots in Nichols College's 4-3 overtime loss to Endicott College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Men's Ice Hockey Quarterfinal action Wednesday night at Levy Rink.
 
Freshman Justin Perron collected a pair of assists while junior Vincent Crivello, sophomore Filip Virgili, and freshman Oliver Arnberg potted goals for the Bison, the No. 4 seed who closes the season 11-12-3. The No. 5-seeded Gulls, meanwhile, improve to 16-8-2 and advance to face top-seeded Salve Regina in the Semifinals on Saturday.
 
Endicott graduate student Ross Olsson racked up three points while senior Josh Bowles scored the GWG 14:26 into overtime. Freshman Conor O'Brien recorded 38 saves – including eight in overtime – to earn his 11th win of the season.
 
Virgili's fifth goal of the season on the power-play  - a wrister from the let circle – 4:49 into the third put the Bison in front 3-2. They held off a heavy push from Endicott until the final seconds when junior Jason Kucerovy scored with 44 seconds remaining in regulation and O'Brien on the bench to force overtime.
 
Nichols received a power play early in the extra stanza but was unable to convert despite several scoring chances. Later, Olsson sent a pass from behind the net to Bowles in the slot, and his shot eluded Epp and sent the Gulls to the next round.
 
Three things you need to know...
            -Tonight's contest marked the ninth all-time meeting between Nichols College and Endicott College. The Gulls now lead the series, 5-4-0.
            -This was the second time in nine matchups the Bison and Gulls went to overtime. The inaugural contest on November 4, 2015 was won by Nichols in OT, 3-2.
            -This was the first-ever playoff meeting between the two schools, and the first time the road team scored a victory; both EC and NC were 4-0-0 on home ice against the other.