BIDDEFORD, Maine –Nichols men's lacrosse used a seven-goal first half to hold off the University of New England and earn a 10-8 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) win, its first conference of the season, on Saturday afternoon at Blue Bolt Field. Nichols now sits at 7-5 (1-2 CCC), while the Nor'easters hold a 7-6 (1-3 CCC) record.
 
The Bison jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after the first quarter, as three separate goal scorers notched five goals. Hunter Ferreira and Cian Keohane each notched a pair while Colby Gillis added one goal in the opening 15 minutes. UNE snapped its drought just under a minute into the second period with a Ryan Hazard goal. Nichols went on to score two more goals and give up another to hold a 7-2 lead at the half.
 
The home team went on to outscore the Bison 6-3 over the final 30 minutes of the contest, but the Bison's early lead and key saves made by goalkeeper Brady Morgan led to the first conference win of the season, and the first under first-year head coach Shayne Lynch.
 
Gillis (2-2-4) and Keohane (3-1-4) led the way on offense with four points apiece, while Jack Ellis (2-1-3), Ferreira (2-0-2), and Ryan Warner (1-0-1) rounded out the Bison scoring.
 
Morgan stood tall with 18 saves in net. His team helped keep the pressure off as it forced 13 turnovers and scooped up 38 ground balls in the conquest.
 
Nichols was nearly perfect in its clearing attempts, earning successful clears on 22 of 25 attempts, while the Nor'easters were forced into 10 failed clear opportunities. The Bison went 1-for-3 on extra-man opportunities.
 
The Bison will now face off against Curry in a 7:00 p.m. midweek matchup at Walter M. Katz Field on Wednesday, April 12.