NCAA First Round Live Scoreboard

NESCAC POTY Ryan Cole looks to lead Trinity to an NCAA
Tournament win

Nichols   2
Trinity    4
FINAL



Happy Ultimate PI Day, NESCAC nerds/fans. The Bantams host the ECAC-NE champion Nichol Bison tonight in Hartford. The winner hosts Plattsburgh in the Quarterfinals next weekend. Find out what happens live below.


1st Period: A bit sloppy in the early going as teams get settled into NCAA tournament play. The Bison get the first power play of the game on a Brendon Cole tripping cole in the neutral zone, but the extra man is wasted. Bantams get their first power play of a back and forth period when Nichols player interfs with Jackson Brewer in front of the net. On the ensuing power play, an aggressive forecheck by the Bison after a dump leads to a de facto 5-on-3 for the Bantams. Anthony Sabitsky fires a snap shot past Larson's glove for the first tally of the game with 50 seconds remaining. Shots in favor of Trinity 11-10 in the period.


2nd Period: The first seven minutes saw Trinity turning on the pressure, but Larson was up to the task. The Bison also had some nice chances of their own on counters. Eight minutes into the period, the Bison won a defensive zone draw and it appeared they tried to wrap it around behind the net but it bounced out in front of the net on a bad bounce and Ben Hjarlmasson knocked it in for his 2nd goal of the season and a 2-0 Trinity lead.  The faceoff came after a freeze call that the ref was very quick with the whistle on despite the goalie not really covering up.

A sustained offensive zone effort lead to the third goal 13:34 into the period. After Ryan Cole was trapped along the boards, Tyler Whitney took the puck and fed Sabitsky down low the left of Larson. Sabitsky then fed Greg Rooney at the circle on a nice feed and Rooney fired it home. The Bisons got back into it with a pair of goals from Sean Flemming in the final three minutes. To add to the mayhem of the 2nd frame, the period ended with roughing calls on both teams as the buzzer sounded. Shots on goal unofficially in favor of Trinity 37-24 after 2.

3rd Period: Multiple breakaways on the four on four for Trinity to start the period and dirty defense by Nichols but no calls until a hooking call on Rob Belger shortly at the end of the four on four. No dice on the power play, but the refs whistles finally work, as a four on four on matching hitting after the whistle calls 5:51 into the period. The Bison hit the post and knock a one-timer just over the crossbar on the 4X4, but nothing goes in. Refs then call tripping call on Bison, Bantams swarm, but do not score.

Bisons get their shot on the power play with 3:05 left after a hooking call on Paul Burns. After Coveney falls down in the attacking zone,, the Bisons squander a 4-2 power play. The Bantams kill the penalty and Nichols pulled their goalie after a timeout with 59.5 seconds left. NESCAC POTY Ryan Cole sealed the win with an empty net goal.  Shots on goal unofficially in favor of Trinity 57-36, but have to assume that will be adjusted a bit for final official states.

With Plattsburgh women winning earlier today and Plattsburgh men having to give up their home because of it, the Bantams will host the Cards next Saturday in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Amherst will also host one of the four Q-final games when they take on Norwich.