DUDLEY, Mass. (4/24/2026) – The Nichols College men's lacrosse team returns to the Conference of New England (CNE) Championship after a one-year hiatus, set to travel to Hartford to take on the No. 3 seeded University of Hartford Hawks in a First Round matchup on Saturday afternoon.
Opening faceoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Alumni Field in West Hartford, Connecticut.
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CNE Tournament Central
How They Got Here
The No. 6 seeded Nichols College Bison enter postseason play with an 8-9 overall record, including a 4-5 mark in conference action. Nichols punched its ticket with an 11-8 victory over Curry College on Wednesday at Vendetti Field.
The No. 3 seeded Hartford Hawks finished the regular season 10-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play, with their only conference losses coming against Western New England and Endicott.
The two teams met once during the regular season, with the Bison falling 18-7 on the road at Alumni Field.
By the Numbers
Nichols returned to the postseason for the eighth time in program history, finishing the regular season with 182 goals (10.71 per game) and 282 total points (16.59 per game).
The Bison ranked among the conference's most efficient units, placing:
- 4th in shots on goal
- 3rd in man-up goals (22)
- 1st in man-down goals (3)
- 3rd in ground balls (597)
- 3rd in caused turnovers (180)
- 2nd in faceoff percentage (.608)
Their ability to control possession and capitalize on faceoff wins has been a defining factor throughout the season.
The two teams met once during the 2026 regular season, with the Bison dropping in a 7-18 loss away at the Alumni Field.
Who to Watch
Nichols closes out the 2026 season with a competitive statistical profile, totaling 182 goals (10.7 per game) while allowing 11.7 goals per contest. The Bison generated 685 shots and maintained a .266 shooting percentage, while also holding advantages in ground balls (597–542) and faceoff efficiency (.608). Their ability to control possession and dictate tempo was evident throughout the season, highlighted by a program-record performance at the faceoff X in a 24–7 win over Anna Maria College.
Nichols features a balanced offensive attack led by senior
Conor Doherty, who paced the team with 53 points (36 goals, 17 assists). Doherty continues to be the centerpiece of the offense and recently reached the 100-career point milestone in a win over Gordon.
Kane Williams and
Shea Ullo provide strong secondary scoring, totaling 38 and 36 points, respectively. Williams adds versatility with 21 goals and 17 assists, while Ullo's 111 shots highlight his aggressive scoring mentality. Additional offensive depth comes from
Jack Campbell (25 goals) and
Jonah Libby (28 points), giving Nichols multiple scoring threats across the field.
At the faceoff X,
Travis Arnold has been dominant, winning 230 draws while collecting a team-high 137 ground balls. His control at the stripe has been critical in establishing possession and transition opportunities, leading the CNE in faceoff wins.
Defensively,
Cam Ayotte (24 caused turnovers, 31 ground balls) and
Colin Bunkley (23 caused turnovers, 27 ground balls) anchor a unit that thrives on disruption.
Jackson Hernandez adds support with 36 ground balls, providing stability in the midfield.
In goal,
Carter Renaud has been a steady presence, recording 192 saves and a .515 save percentage. Ranking among the conference leaders in saves per game, Renaud has consistently kept Nichols competitive against high-powered offenses.
