HARRISVILLE, R.I. – The Nichols women's ice hockey program won their first game of the season, defeating Rivier University by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Friday afternoon at Levy Rink. 

The Bison struck first on the power play just 3:55 seconds into the opening frame as junior Megan Buxton stole the puck in front of the net and slipped it five-hole for a 1-0 lead.  

Roughly three minutes later, the visiting Raiders evened up the score as Angeline Rasby and Molly Dukesherer assisted on an Ellie Grady wrist shot goal. Molly Dukesherer then scored with 3:36 remaining to put the Raiders up 2-1 into the first intermission. 

The Bison began the second period on the power play, leading to freshman Avery Moriarty scoring her first collegiate goal just 32 seconds into the middle stanza. Assists came from senior Jessica Gossas-Moberg and freshman Taylor Breen to tie things up at two-all. Breen's assist was the first point of her career.

The remaining time in regulation turned into a goaltending duel, with Nichols junior McKenzie Muir and Rivier's Maddy Morgan turning away shots left and right. 

Midway through the third period, the Raiders were able to kill off a Bison 5-on-3 advantage for a minute and 20 seconds as well as another Bison power play in the late stages of the third period. After 60 minutes, the two teams needed to settle the score in a 3-on-3 overtime period. 

With just over a minute remaining in overtime, after winning the face off in her own defensive zone, junior Grace Wiggett moved the puck up the right side of the ice and found graduate student Rebecca Taylor who lost the puck in front of the Rivier net, where Buxton found it after a scrum and tucked it home for the win. 

Nichols will travel to Nashua, N.H. tomorrow, Saturday, November 18 for the second half of their home-and-home set with the Raiders. Puck drop from Conway Arena is set for 7:40 p.m.