EAST BOSTON – Suffolk women's hockey fell behind early and never caught up to Nichols, who took down the Rams, 4-2, in Conference of New England play Saturday night at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Nichols 4
RECORDS: Suffolk (8-12-1, 6-7-1 CNE) | Nichols (7-13-2, 4-9-2 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Nichols had the hot hand early as it built a 2-0 lead in the first and extended the edge to three 4:20 into the middle period. The Bison capitalized on the power play, scoring twice on the man-up opportunity to force Suffolk to play catchup.  

The Rams scoring started at the 18:10 mark of the second period when Bella Schmidt chipped the puck away with help from Abby Sandler and Kate Pohl to send the host into the second intermission down a pair, 3-1.  

Suffolk made it a game at the midway point of the third when Sam Molind lit the lamp with aid from Alexia Hill and Shayna Deutsch to shave the margin to one, 3-2. 

As time ticked on Katelyn Michals was pulled from her post between the pipes to give Suffolk the extra skater boost. It was the Bison that took advantage as Alexis Pacheco put away an empty netter with 34 seconds remaining for the 4-2 final.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Michals made 26 saves in the setback. 
• McKenzie Muir logged 40 stops in the victory. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Molind and Schmidt were responsible for Suffolk's goals with one apiece. 
• Pohl, Sandler, Hill and Deutsch all handed out one assist each. 
• Suffolk outshot Nichols, 42-30. 
• The Rams went 0-for-1 on the power play. 
• Nichols converted two of its four power play chances.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Schmidt scored her ninth goal of the year. 
• Molind notched her fifth goal of the season. 
• Hill had her eighth assist of the year. 
• Sandler dished out her second assist of the season. 
• Pohl provided her fourth assist of the campaign. 
• Deutsch recorded her third assist of the year.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk will spend next weekend on the road. The Rams are scheduled to visit No. 12 Endicott Friday, Feb. 14 at 5:00 p.m., before stopping by Curry Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3:00 p.m.