Nichols defeats Ice Dogs, 5-3, despite two goals from Taylor Larsen

February 15, 2009

Nichols 5, Assumption 3

HARRISVILLE, RI--- Nichols College, ranked 13th in the most recent Division III national poll, earned its team-record setting 20th victory with a hard-earned 5-3 win over Assumption College SUNDAY in the Austin Levy Rink in a non-conference game.

Junior forward ERIC CREMER (Chelsea, MI) scored the game-winner for the Bison in the third period.

The Greyhounds took a 1-0 lead in the first period, after junior defenseman ADAM GAUDREAU (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry/Tilton School) tucked in a rebound off a shot from freshman forward DENNIS SILVIO (Beverly, MA/Beverly/Proctor Academy) on the power play at 3:05. It was his fifth goal of the season.

The Bison then scored four unanswered goals in the second period and added a fifth in the third period before the Greyhounds freshman forward TAYLOR LARSEN (Blackstone, MA/Blackstone/Worcester Academy) made things interesting with a pair of third-period goals.

Nichols senior forward RYAN GERVAIS (Chicago, IL) tied the game at the 4:16 mark of the second period with his 11th goal of the season. Senior defenseman COLE RUWE (Pekin, IL) and sophomore forward WILL MUNSON (Corona, CA) assisted on the play. Just 1:12 later freshman forward BRETT ENGLEBRIGHT (Pekin, IL) scored his fifth of the season to put the Bison ahead to stay. Senior defenseman ANTHONY MONTE (Chicago, IL) and freshman forward DAN STYRNA (Vancouver, BC) assisted.

Styrna scored his third goal of the season at 16:04 and Cremer his ninth at 17:48 to close out the second period. Junior forward ZEKE COSTELLO (Shelby Township, MA) made it 5-1 with a power-play goal, his seventh goal of the season, at 3:35 of the third period.

Larense then scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season---he leads the Greyhounds in goals---as sophomore forward PATRICK FITZGIBBONS (Holliston, MA/Saint John's) and freshman forward PAT O'KANE (Hollis, NH/Williston-Northampton) assisted on both tallies. Larsen is second among Northeast-10 Conference freshmen with 11-7--18 points.

Nichols senior goalie KEITH FINK (Easton, MD) made 13 saves to improve his record to a gaudy 11-1 on the season. Greyhounds' freshman goalkeeper NICK BLANCHETTE (Stuart, FL/Worcester Academy) made 41 saves. Blanchette is second in the Northeast-10 Conference in goals-against average (3.38) and leads in save percentage (.921).

Nichols is now 20-3 on the season, while the Greyhounds fall to 6-13 4.

Nichols is back in action WEDNESDAY as they travel to UMass Dartmouth for a 7:30 p.m. game. Assumption is next in action THURSDAY at Worcester State at 5:30 p.m.

Click here for ASSUMPTION-NICHOLS box score