Biggs comes up big in 1-0 win

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – Sophomore David Chiokadze (Langhorne, Pa.) posted his first collegiate shutout as the Salve Regina men's ice defeated Nichols, 1-0, in ECAC Northeast action at the Portsmouth Abbey Monday night. Sophomore Marc Biggs (Plano, Texas) scored the games-lone goal to lift the Seahawks to victory.

The win for Salve Regina improves the Seahawks to 10-13 on the season, tying its second highest win total for a season while improving their league mark to 8-4. The Bison move to 15-6-2 on the year and 8-3-1 in the league.

With just 4:59 showing on the clock, Biggs collected the loose puck in the neutral zone and took it past the blue line. Biggs sent a hard slap shot high over the Bison goalie for the only tally of the game, which proved to be enough for the Seahawks.

Chiokadze posted his third-straight game with at least 30 saves, this time not allowing a goal for his first career shutout. The sophomore netminder faced a flurry of shots over the three periods, stopping a game-high 12 in the final stanza. Following Biggs' game-winner, Chiokadze made five saves in the final five minutes, none bigger than his last one which appeared to get by the sophomore but Chiokadze's quick move kept the puck out of the net.

Salve Regina peppered the Bison goalie, sophomore Alex Larson (Madison, Ala.) over the 60 minutes as he made 48 saves for Nichols. Larson made 20 saves in the first while ending to game with 18 stops in the third.

Both teams overcame numerous powerplay chances as the two squads combined for 46 penalty minutes. Nichols killed off an early five-minute power play in the first period before Salve Regina returned the favor just over halfway through the first period. At the 12:45 mark, Salve Regina was faced with three skaters to five on the ice for a full two minutes and was able to keep the Bison at bay, allowing just two shots on net in the 5-on-3 as senior Chad Hollenshade (Lutherville, Md.) blocked a third shot headed to the net.

Biggs' only goal of the game came unassisted and was his second game-winner of the season.

The Bison return to action on Wednesday when they face Johnson & Wales while the Seahawks host Western New England on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.