Women’s Hockey Meets Nichols this Weekend

SUFFOLK vs. NICHOLS
Date Time Venue Video Stats Program	Friday, Jan. 21 6:00 PM Porrazzo Rink East Boston, Mass. SuffolkPlaysight GoSuffolkRams.com Digital Program
Date Time Venue Video Stats	Saturday, Jan. 22 4:40 PM Levy Rink Harrisville, R.I. NicholsAthletics.com NicholsAthletics.com
Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	1-2-1 Feb. 26, 2021, W, 5-3 Same W1

BOSTON – Suffolk women's hockey looking to keep rolling this weekend as it is set for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) home-and-home series with Nichols. The Rams entertain the Bison Friday, Jan. 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink with the rematch in store for Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4:40 p.m. in Harrisville, Rhode Island. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

UPDATED FAN POLICY
With the health and well-being of students and staff remaining the highest priority, effective immediately, spectators will not be permitted at Suffolk University Athletics home contests through the end of January 2022. At that time, the spectator policy will be reevaluated. 

The change in the spectator policy comes as a precaution against the increase in COVID cases throughout the city, state and region.  

The spectator policy applies to on-campus venues including, but not limited to, Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, home of Suffolk basketball, as well as off-campus locations in the men's ice hockey home rink, Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink, and the women's hockey arena, Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink. 

MORE INFO: Suffolk Athletics: Updated Spectator Policy

LAST TIME OUT
Behind a hat trick from Shana Cote and a stand-up effort by Julia McLellan in net, Suffolk women's hockey secured the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) home-and-home series sweep against Western New England with a 5-0 win over the Golden Bears Saturday afternoon at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

MORE READING: Women's Hockey Blanks Western New England, 5-0

SUFFOLK SCORES

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk swept its CCC series with Western New England last weekend in shutout fashion to head into this week's action 11-2-0 on the year and 6-1-0 in league play.  

The Rams offense is red hot as of late with nine goals in the last two games to average 4.00 goals per outing. Shana Cote has been a force on the offensive end with 26 points evenly split between goals (13) and assists (13). The senior captain leads the squad in every offensive category. Sofia Scilipoti (8g, 10a), Maddy Burton (11g, 6a), Jesse Kennedy (4g, 10a) and Madison Duff (1g, 9a) all have hit the double-digit point mark on the season as well. 

Suffolk cycles through three different goaltenders, all of who have taken the ice in five games. Lily O'Neil has earned the nod as of late and brings in a 3-2-0 record with a .865 save percentage and 2.31 GAA. Julia McLellan (3-0-0) and Hannah Gordon (5-0-0) are both unbeaten in between the pipes. The former holds a .901 save percentage and 2.31 GAA, while the latter boasts a .935 save percentage and 1.38 GAA. 

BISON BREAKDOWN
Nichols took a break from CCC play Wednesday, Jan. 19 when it defeated New England College, 5-1, to head into the series with Suffolk 7-5-1 on the year. In CCC play, the Bison fell in both battles to No. 8 Endicott last weekend to hold a 4-4-1 league ledger.  

Five different players have produced double figures in points. Mel McAleer's 14 lead the way behind four goals and a team-best 10 helpers. Megan Buxton, who is second on the squad with 13 points, paces the pack in scoring with nine goals, to go along with four handouts. Alicia Hunks (3g, 9a), Isabella Portt (5g, 6a) and Kara Santoro (5g, 5a) have been consistent contributors as well. 

Victoria Bakopanos and Julia Carroll have split the bulk of the action in net for the Bision. Carroll is 4-2-0 on the year with a .917 save percentage and 1.68 GAA. Bakopanos on the other hand is 2-3-1 with a .959 save percentage and 1.49 GAA. Carroll has shutout two opponents, while Bakopanos has one cleansheet to her credit. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Nichols series is the oldest in the Rams' all-time history with the Bison being the first-ever opponent for the blue-and-gold. 
• Suffolk sits 1-2-1 all-time versus Nichols. 
• The Rams only win in the all-time series came in the last meeting, Feb. 26, 2021 in Eastie. 
• Suffolk is 1-1-1 when hosting Nichols at Porrazzo Rink. 
• On the road, the Rams are 0-1-0 against the Bison. 
• Suffolk and Nichols went into overtime once, Nov. 22, 2019. That game ended in a 5-5 stalemate. 
• Suffolk has scored five goals against Nichols in the last two meetings.  

MORE INFO: Suffolk vs. Nichols – All-Time Series

EYES ON THE GAME

RAMS RECOGNITION
Julia McLellan of the Suffolk women's hockey team has been named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Goaltender of the Week after her shutout performance over Western New England, the league office announced Monday afternoon.   

MORE READING: McLellan Grabs CCC Goaltender of the Week 

RAM OF THE WEEK
With winter season in full swing, Ram Nation had its work cut out to decide who had the biggest standout showing of the week to take home Ram of the Week via a Twitter Poll for Jan. 9-16.  

MORE READING: Cote Earns Ram of the Week, Again

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk looks ahead for its series with No. 8 Endicott Jan. 28-29. The Rams head to Beverly, Massachusetts Friday, Jan. 28 for a 7 p.m. puck drop with an outing in Eastie on tap for Saturday, Jan. 29 at 4:50 p.m.