HARRISVILLE, R.I. (12/1/23) – Behind a 40 save performance by junior Tyler Bost, the Nichols College men's hockey team upset #12 University of New England in a shootout in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play. The Bison won 2-1 in the shootout to clinch the extra point on Friday night from Levy Rink.

Junior Josh Dickson and senior Dylan McMahon each scored goals in the game for the Bison. Juniors Nathan Carl, Gabe Temple, sophomore Jack Lee, and freshman Zach Vandale all tallied assists in the effort for the Bison.

The Nor'easters opened the scoring just 5:15 into the game on the power-play from a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that beat Bost over his left shoulder and snuck it inside the far post. UNE grabbed a 1-0 lead. Nichols pulled even eight minutes later in the first period.

Temple entered the zone and found a Lee driving to the net. Lee passed the puck behind himself to Dickson, who fired the shot from the top of the crease, beating the goalie. This was Dickson's second goal of the season and drew the Bison level. UNE out shot the Bison 13-6 through the first period as the score stayed 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Neither team found the back of the net in the second frame and entered the third period with a 1-1 score. Nichols grabbed their first lead of the game at the 8:57 mark of the third period. Once again, the Bison cashed in from around the crease. McMahon found the loose puck and buried the puck into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead half-way through the period.

UNE drew level four minutes later on the power-play with a shot deflecting off a defender and into the net, to make it 2-2 with seven minutes to play. Nichols drew a penalty with under a minute remaining in the game but were unable to score on the player advantage in regulation and the game called for overtime.

In overtime, the Bison generated top chances but were unable to sneak one past the Nor'easter netminder. Nichols out shot UNE 3-2 in the extra five-minute frame. The game remained tied 1-1 and called for a shootout.

In the shootout, UNE went first and opened the scoring taking a 1-0 lead with a back hand goal. McMahon was the first Bison shooter, he worked his way down the right side of the ice before darting across the crease and finishing the shot past the goalie to even the score up, 1-1.

The second UNE shooter sent a wrist shot from the slot that deflected off of Bost and hit the post and stayed out of the net to give Nichols a chance to take the lead. Carl was up for the Bison as the second shooter. Carl slowly carried the puck towards the cage and from the left side of the ice cut across the netminder's crease but slammed on the brakes and tucked the shot past the sprawling net minder to give Nichols a 2-1 lead.

The final UNE skater was looking for the equalizer to keep the game alive but took a shot five-hole and Bost slammed the pads shut to make the save and give Nichols the extra CCC point with the shootout win over #12 UNE.

Nichols move 1-1 in shootouts this season and grabs two points in the CCC standings for the effort. The Bison will travel north for the second game of the UNE series and face-off against the Nor'easters tomorrow night with puck drop set for 7 p.m. from Harold Alfond Forum.