BIDDEFORD, Maine (4/5/2025) – The Nichols College men's lacrosse team came up short in the fourth quarter of a conference showdown at the University of New England Saturday, resulting in a 13-8 road loss against the Nor'easters at Blue Bolt Field.

The Bison fall to 3-10 (1-3 CNE), while the Nor'easters improve to 6-7 (1-3 CNE).

Senior Dylan DeRubeis posted five points on the day, scoring three goals with a pair of assists and a team-high six ground balls. Junior Travis Arnold went 11-of-19 from the face-off, while graduate student Cooper Melvin paced the defense with three caused turnovers, and three ground balls. Melvin's five of ground balls also helped him surpass a career milestone, bringing his career total over 200.

Senior goalkeeper Brady Morgan (3-10) made 12 stops in the contest.

The Bison put up a solid fight in the first quarter, and were rewarded with a slim 4-3 advantage through the first 15 minutes of action. Graduate student Jonah Libby opened the scoring with his 10^th goal of the season a little under two minutes into the game, while Ullo notched his third at the 11:52 mark of the period, with UNE clinging to a 3-2 edge at the midway point. Nichols landed two more goals before the end of the quarter, which were both unassisted off shots by DeRubeis and freshman Aydan Lockard.

UNE responded with the lone goal of the second quarter, sending the two sides to the break deadlocked at 4-4.

The scoring stalemate continued into the third, with both teams pouring in two goals apiece to tie the score at 6-6 with five minutes to go, including DeRubeis' second of the day. However, UNE would gain the upper hand before the end of the quarter, scoring the go-ahead goal at 1:12 to take a 7-6 lead into the fourth.

It was all UNE from there, as the Nor'easters outscored the Bison 6-2 in the fourth to win the contest, 13-8. DeRubeis completed his hat trick performance at 3:45 of the quarter, just over a minute ahead of CJ Cadigan's lone strike at 2:26.

Nichols is back in action on Wednesday, April 9^th for the team's Senior Night at Vendetti Field. The opening face-off between the Bison and conference opponent University of Hartford (6-5, 3-1 CNE) is set for 8:00 PM.