HARRISVILLE, R.I. - The Nichols women's hockey team lost a hard fought battle to the University of New England on Saturday night in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action by the score of 2-1. With the blank, the Bison fell to 5-17-1, (3-13-0 CCC), while UNE improved to 8-12-3 (7-7-2 CCC).

Nichols controlled the puck for most of the first period, despite being outshot 13-6. With 12:43 remaining in the first, Lauren Rokala kicked off her senior night with a bang when she was able to sneak one past the UNE netminder for her third goal of the season. Nichols was able to kill off a penalty late in third to take the 1-0 lead into the second.

The second period was a different story, with UNE constantly applying pressure in the Bison zone. Just over two minutes into the period, Abbi Charvat of UNE got one past Victoria Bakopanos on the power play to tie things up at one. The Nor'easters kept the pressure on the rest of the period but Bakopanos stood tall in net and things headed to the third all tied up at one.

In the third period, the Bison found themselves on the penalty kill for six consecutive minutes.  The Bison were able to kill off the whole penalty thanks to some incredible saves by Bakopanos. With less than five minutes remaining, UNE was finally able to get one past Bakopanos to take the 2-1 lead. Nichols was unable to find the back of the net the rest of the way and UNE took the 2-1 victory.

Bakopanos made 41 saves in the loss. Graduate student Isabella Portt skated in her 102nd career game, tying the Nichols women's hockey program record for most games played in a career, set by Kerri Nadeau (2011-2015).

Nichols takes the ice next on Friday, February 17 against CCC opponent Endicott from Levy Rink. The puck is set to drop at 5:40 p.m.