HARRISVILLE, R.I. – After an early first period goal lasted most of the evening, a late third period score by Samantha Fallon (Swampscott, Mass.) proved to be the deciding factor as women's hockey managed to hang on for their fifth win of the 2014-15 season as they edged Nichols College 2-1 Friday evening at Levy Rink in an ECAC East contest.

The victory ties the program record for the best start in the history of the program, as UMass Boston improved to 5-0-0, 3-0-0 in the ECAC East.  Nichols fell to 2-3-0 on the year, and remain winless in the ECAC East at 0-3-0.

The early Beacons goal by Angela Dandreo (Swampscott, Mass.) was the lone tally for over 55 minutes in Friday's contest.  The senior defenseman netted her second goal of the year at 3:47 of the opening frame on an unassisted play. 

UMass used that early momentum to carry them through the next two periods as they outshot the Bison 39-20.  Unfortunately, they were unable to put away another goal to gain some distance in the early ongoing, which allowed Nichols to stay very much in the contest.

Fallon's game-winning goal did not come until the 18:32 mark of the third, which for only a few seconds made it a two-goal affair.  Nichols would capitalize on an extra attacker in the closing seconds of the contest to make it a 2-1 contest, and end Kailyn Burke's (Franklin, Mass.) shutout bid.

The senior netminder improved to a 3-0 on the year after registering 19 saves in the victory.  Assisting on the crucial Beacons goal was Kayla Kiernan (North Smithfield, R.I.) and Jane Morrisette (Pembroke, Mass.). 

For the Bison their lone goal of the night came from Julia Mastrotataro.  Tori Gianformaggio made 37 stops as she fell to 2-3-0 on the young season.

Overall the Beacons finished Friday's win 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Bison went 0-for-4.

The Beacons return to action tomorrow when they travel to the Playland Ice Casino to face Manhattanville College at 3 p.m.