HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Despite a 50-save performance from sophomore goaltender Victoria Bakopanos, the Nichols women's hockey team could not complete the weekend sweep of the University of New England (UNE) in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play as the Bison fell by a score of 2-1 on Saturday evening at Levy Rink. Nichols drops to 4-12-1 (2-9-0 CCC) while the Nor'Easters advanced to 7-10-1 (6-5-1 CCC).
 
UNE opened the scoring 13:48 into the first period as Lainie Lexieux tipped a shot off the stick of Abbi Charvat past Bakopanos to go up 1-0.
 
The visitors added a second goal with 33 seconds to play in the second as Jamie DuPont entered the zone with McKenna Remillard on a 2-on-1. Dupont slid the puck across the slot where Remillard fired it far side and in to go up by a pair at the second intermission.
 
With 7:32 left in the third, Bakopanos made a sprawling save after a Nichols turnover in the defensive zone, stoning Carolyn Curley on a 1-on-0 opportunity.
 
With 4:43 to play, Nichols cut the deficit to one with a powerplay goal. Avery Moriarty rifled one past UNE netminder Kaleigh Laurendeau on a feed from Sarah Zeidan.
 
The Bison goal would be too little, too late as the Nor'easters denied the Nichols scoring opportunities in the final minutes with the goaltender pulled to skate away with a 2-1 victory.
 
The Bison blocked 18 shots in the setback.
 
Nichols will look to bounce back in a home matchup against CCC foe Salve Regina on Friday, January 27 at 5:40 p.m.