Popkin’s Hat Trick Pushes Women’s Hockey Past Nichols, 4-1

HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Hats came off for Kellie Popkin as she scored three goals to lead Suffolk women's hockey to a 4-1 Commonwealth Coast Conference victory over Nichols Saturday at Levy Rink.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Nichols 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-14-2, 6-8-1 CCC) | Nichols (7-14-0, 1-13-0 CCC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The scoring started 47 seconds into the action. Popkin poked the puck away to put the Rams on the board. Katie Newkirk and Elise Wainwright aided in the game-opening goal.  

The Rams extended the edge nearly 18 minutes later. On the penalty kill, Suffolk used the boards to get the puck of its own zone. Maddie Gagliano picked it up, went in for a shot and put away her own rebound to double the distance. Katie Newkirk and Elise Wainwright helped give Suffolk a 2-0 edge as the teams headed to the locker room for the first time.  

Nichols netted its first of the day with 1:24 left in the middle period. On the boards behind the net Grace Melanson dished out to a diving Kayla Currin, who fired a one timer to the opposite side of the cage that flew by Lily O'Neil to cut the blue-and-gold's lead to one, 2-1. 

Popkin potted two Rams goals over a 2:22 span starting at 8:31 of the third period to seal the deal for Suffolk. 

NETMINDER NOTES

• O'Neil finished with 22 saves in the victory. 
• McKenzie Muri produced 22 stops in the setback.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Popkin scored three goals for Suffolk. 
• Wainwright assist on all three of Popkin's strikes. 
• Gagliano put away one goal away for the blue-and-gold. 
• Jenna Caballero, Sammy Lassman, Liliana Moose and Newkirk had one assist each. 
• Suffolk had a slim advantage in shots, 26-23. 
• Nichols won the face-off battle, 31-22.
• Suffolk went 1-for-4 on the power play and successfully skated off five penalty kills.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk coupled back-to-back wins together for the first time since sweeping Nichols in a home-and-home series Nov. 10-11, 2023. 
• The Rams are unbeaten in the last 11 meetings with the Bison. That streak features 10 wins in a row for the blue-and-gold including tonight's decision. 
• On the road, the Rams are 5-1-0 against Nicholls. 
• Suffolk is undefeated, 3-0-0, versus Nichols under Abby Ostrom's guidance. 
• Suffolk has outscored Nichols, 54-27 all-time including a 50-14 margin in the last 10 meetings, all CCC clashes. 
• Suffolk scored its second short-handed goal of the season, first since at Nichols, Nov. 10, 2023, a 3-2 Rams win.  
• Popkin produced her first hat trick as a Ram. She is the first Suffolk skater to register a hat trick in the Ostrom era and first since Shane Cote logged a three-goal effort in a 4-1 win over Curry Jan. 20, 2023. 
• Popkin finished with a career-high in points (3) and goals (3). 
• Wainwright matched a personal-best in assists with three handouts. 
• Gagliano has produced a point in back-to-back games.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk rides its win streak into next weekend Feb. 9-10 when it visits Salve Regina Friday for a 7:30 p.m. clash before hosting Endicott at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink Saturday at 4:50 p.m.