Box Score (Courtesy of Nichols College Sports Information)
HARRISVILLE, R.I. -- Senior Jana Sacco (Niagara Falls, Ontario) scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, to help the University of Southern Maine Huskies snap a three-game losing skid with a 3-1 road win against the Nichols College Bison in the ECAC East women's hockey matchup Saturday afternoon at Levy Rink.
Both squads completed their respective regular season slates as the Huskies posted a 7-14-4 overall record and 7-9-2 in league action. The Bison registered a program-best 7-16-2 mark while going 4-12-2 in conference play.
Southern Maine found success early with a goal at 5:17 into the game as freshman Maggie Lane (Burlington, Mass.) snuck the puck past a crowd in front of the net and behind the netminder. Lane received help form senior Katie Paradis (Rochester, N.H.) and junior Katie Davis (Woburn, Mass.).
The Bison responded less than two minutes into the second stanza behind a goal from first-year Grace Murphy (Montclair, Va.). Rookie Lisa Coskren (Norwood, Mass.) sent the pass to Murphy who aimed a wrist shot at the low blocker side for the equalizer.
Sacco scored the game-winner with 5:31 left in the frame on a wrist shot from the high slot after a dish from senior Joanna Gaube (Woodstock, Conn.) and junior Alex Smith (Winthrop, Mass.).
The Huskies potted an empty netter with 63 ticks left on the scoreboard. Sophomore Erin Banfield (Montpelier, Vt.) carried the puck around the back of the net and found Sacco for the tip-in.
Southern Maine goalie freshman Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.) turned away 17 shots, while sophomore Francesca Palazzo (Bernardston, Mass.) amassed 30 saves for the Bison.
The Huskies will head into the upcoming ECAC East Championship tournament as the sixth seed and face New England College in a first-round game next weekend. The Bison will enter the tournament as the eighth seed and will head to Norwich next Saturday. The conference office will announce game times on Sunday.
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