Harrisville, R.I. - The Nichols men's hockey team lost the first game of a home-and-home weekend series with Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent University of New England (UNE) on Friday night by the score of 7-0. With the loss, Nichols drops to 6-10-0 (2-10 CCC), while UNE improves their record to 9-5-1 (4-7 CCC).
 
The Bison played a strong defensive first period and headed into the second with the score all knotted 0-0. The Nor'easters broke the tie 7:32 into the second period, taking the lead 1-0. UNE added another one before the end of the period, taking a 2-0 lead into the third.
 
The Nor'easters would string together three goals in the first 5:13 of the final period to put the game out of reach. They would add two more powerplay goals in the final minute to walk away with the 7-0 victory.
 
Nichols goaltender Mathias Backstrom racked up a career-high 46 saves in the loss.
 
The Bison get another crack at UNE Saturday, January 21 when they travel to the Harold Alfond Forum in Biddeford, Maine. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m.