NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Coast Guard defense held Nichols to just 123 of total offense, just 25 in the second half, as the Bears blanked Nichols 13-0 in a non-conference game to snap the Bison's six-game regular season winning streak dating back to last season.
Nichols (2-1) was held to minus 18 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter as the Bears defense forced a pair of three-and-outs before the Bison went for it on fourth down with 14 seconds left in the game and did not convert.
The Bears (2-1) registered six sacks in the win with junior Jack Brandt (6 tackles) accounting for two while classmates Titus Creamer and Tommy Jones while seniors Christian Breviario and Vince De Terlizzi each added one.
Sophomore Patrick Crowley had his second interception of the season while sophomore Michael Goldsworthy and freshman Colby Coco each had their first interceptions of the season. Creamer and junior Jake Behne led Coast Guard with seven tackles each.
Nichols freshman Dom Brunson had two of the four interceptions for the Bison while senior Mike Abbruzzese and senior Zackary Gorczynski each added another.
Coast Guard had 384 yards of total offense, including 203 rushing yards, but the Bears turned the ball over six times, five times in the first half. There were nine turnovers in the game as Nichols had three.
Senior Cam Cecchini had 23 carries for a career-high 104 yards while junior Jeff Porter carried six times for 63 yards.
The only touchdown of the game came in the first quarter when junior quarterback Ethan Goldcamp threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Cody Bain with 8:56 left in the first quarter and junior Cole Austin's extra point gave the Bears a 7-0 lead, those would be the only points of the first half.
Coast Guard had fumbled the ball away on its first two possessions of the game before the touchdown on the third drive. The Bears had 156 yards in the first quarter, 105 of those on the ground.
Nichols turned the ball over on two of its first three possessions as Goldsworthy and Coco had interceptions for the Bears in the first quarter.
Goldcamp (20 of 37 for 181 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT) threw three interceptions in the first half while Coast Guard also fumbled twice in the first 30 minutes.
Nichols sophomore quarterback Tony Martignoli was 13 of 30 for 91 yards with three interceptions, two of those in the first half.
Austin connected on a pair of short field goals, a 19-yarder in the third quarter and a 20-yard field goal with 1:06 left in the game to close the scoring.
Bain led the Bears with five receptions for 64 yards.
Freshman Eric Mooney led the Bison with four receptions for 37 yards.
It was the first shutout for Coast Guard since a 34-0 win in the 2016 season opener at Anna Maria, it was the first shutout at home since beating Curry 17-0 in 2014.
The 13 total points were the least amount of points scored in the five meetings between Coast Guard and Nichols, the Bears lead the all-time series 4-1. The Bison beat the Bears 24-14 last year.
Coast Guard will play its first ever New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game next Saturday at Norwich at 2:00 as the team's meet for the first time since 2005 in the battle for The Mug.