EAST BOSTON, Mass. – The Nichols women's hockey team fell to Suffolk in overtime on Saturday night in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play at Porrazzo Skating Rink by a final score of 3-2. With the loss, Nichols falls to 5-15-1 (3-11-0 CCC) while the Rams jump to 14-5-2 (12-1-2 CCC). Nichols graduate student forward, Isabella Portt, suited up in black-and-green for the 100th time in her career in the setback.
After a scoreless first period in which sophomore netminder Victoria Bakopanos made 20 saves, it would be Suffolk who would break the deadlock first. Taylor Nowak found the twine for the first time this season just 2:23 into the period to put the home team up 1-0. Just 5:09 later, Megan Buxton would tie things up for the Bison, sending a shot past Lily O'Neil for her sixth tally of the season. Before the midway point of the third, the Rams would regain their lead when Cassidy Gruning scored an even-strength goal.
Over 10 minutes into the third, Suffolk's Miranda Gaudet would head to the box on a major penalty call for boarding, and the Bison would take advantage of this five-minute powerplay when Portt struck on a feed from Buxton and Kayla Currin with 9:45 to play.
Portt's goal would force an eventual overtime period in which Suffolk's Sam Molind would score on an awarded penalty shot.
Bakopanos made 49 saves in the loss.
Nichols returns to CCC play in a road contest at Western New England on Friday, February 10 with puck drop slated for 8 p.m. from the Olympia Ice Center.
