SALEM, Mass. (10/27/23) – Behind three goals from the freshman, including the game winning goal from Morgan Rochefort in overtime, the Nichols College women's hockey team earned a 3-2 win over Salem State from Rockett Arena on Friday evening.

Rochefort scored her first collegiate goal and the game winning goal for the Bison. Classmate Anneliese Klein and Ema Jaskova also scored their first collegiate goals in the win. Rochefort and Klein each tallied assists for multi-point games to lead all Bison skaters. Sophomore Avery Moriarty and senior Grace Melanson also tallied helpers for Nichols.

The Bison opened the scoring with under two minutes to go in the period, with Jaskova scoring to make it a 1-0 lead. Melanson and Rochefort each picked up assists on Jaskova's first collegiate goal. The Vikings evened the score, halfway through the second period. The team's remained tied at 1-1 headed to the third period of the season opener.

Nichols once again grabbed themselves a 2-1 lead, this time coming off of the stick Klein, who buried her first collegiate goal to give the Bison the lead at the 11:43 of the third period. Salem State pulled even for the second on the night, this time they evened the score as time expired in the third period.

With the Viking's scoring at the 16:56 mark and neither team being able to find the game winning goal in regulation, both teams were headed to overtime.

Freshman Morgan Rochefort won the game for the Bison in overtime, just over halfway through the frame, the Bison earned a power-play opportunity. Nichols controlled the puck and Rochefort hammered a shot from the right circle that beat the netminder for the game winning goal. The overtime goal is the first overtime win for the Bison since November 18 of last season when they beat Rivier 3-2.

Junior McKenzie Muir stopped 20 shots in the win for the Bison, while the Nichols went 2-6 on the power-play and 5-6 on the penalty kill.  

Nichols (1-0-0) will look to add to their winning ways as they travel home to Levy Rink and take on the Vikings of Salem State as the second part in the home and home series. Puck drop is set for 4:40 p.m.