Burrillville, R.I. – The Nichols College Bison men's ice hockey team held off the visiting Trinity College Bantams for a 5-3 triumph this afternoon at Levy Rink. No. 13-ranked Trinity, which drops to 5-2-1 with its first loss in three games, loses its first game to Nichols in 12 meetings.  The Bison improve to 8-4 and defeat the Bantams for the first time since January 24, 1981.

Senior Zach Kohn (Delafield, Wis.) recorded a pair of assists, while first-years Frank Butler (East Haven, Conn.) and Paul Prescott (Oakdale, Minn.) each added a goal and an assist, and sophomore Kyle Shapiro (Ambler, Pa.) notched the game-winner for the Bison. Rookie Tyler Beasley (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomore Chris Gularte (Salinas, Calif.) each found the back of the net while senior captain Wil Brown (Hershey, Pa.), sophomore Brett Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) and junior Greg Strootman (Aston, Pa.) each recorded a pair of helpers.

For the Bantams, senior Jordan So (Toronto, Ontario) scored a goal and notched an assist while rookie Jim Burt (Hamden, Conn.) and sophomore Andrew Tallet (Manchester, Mass.) were each credited with two assists. Senior Chris Menard (Burlington, Mass.) and sophomore Jackson Brewer (Newton, Mass.) rounded out the goal scoring with one apiece as sophomore Michael Flynn (Cheshire, Conn.) pitched in with a helper.

Nichols sounded the siren just 21 seconds into the game as Beasley sent home a rebound on a shot initially taken by Brown. Butler scored on a breakaway at 7:53 to put the Bison on top 2-0, and Gularte increased the Nichols lead with a shot from the blue line following a faceoff with 38 seconds left in the frame.

Menard broke-up the shutout at 15:26 in the second with a one-timer off a pass from So.  Each team found the back of the net in the final period. So made it a one-goal game at 8:06 before Shapiro and Prescott's scored at 10:19 and 13:30, respectively. With 5:43 left, Brewer brought the game within two. At 18:49 the Bantams pulled their goaltender but were unable to capitalize.

Bison rookie goaltender Alex Larson (Madison, Ala.) turned away a game-high 29 shots in his third victory (3-2-0) while junior Ben Coulthard  (South Windsor, Conn.) slipped to 4-2-1 in a 28-save afternoon.  Trinity scored three power play goals on 10 chances while Nichols finished 2-for-5 with extra personnel.

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