HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Graduate student Mel McAleer ended the longest game in Nichols College women's ice hockey history with a goal at 13:53 of overtime to send the No. 3 seeded Bison to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals with a 3-2 win over No. 6 Salve Regina University Wednesday night at Levy Rink.

The win marks the second playoff triumph in program history and extends the Bison's record-setting win total to 16 heading into Saturday's home contest with No. 4 UNE. Sophomore Grace Melanson and Grace Wiggett also tickled the twine for Nichols, which held a 36-19 edge in shots.

McAleer's ninth marker of the season and 48th of her career came from just above the face-off dot in the right circle. The Hanson, Mass. native collected a loose puck along the right wing boards, skated into the circle and sent a wrister that snuck past the SRU netminder. The goal also pushed McAleer into a tie for No. 1 in career goals at Nichols with Grace Murphy (2011-15).
 
Freshman netminder Victoria Bakopanos – who was named to the CCC Second Team earlier in the day – recorded 17 saves to improve to 9-6-1 on the season; her nine wins is the second-highest single-season mark in program history.