(Box Score) 

         HARRISVILLE, R.I. - Sophomore Mandy Manopla (West Palm Beach, Fla.) scored three goals and junior SueEllen Nault (Goffstown, N.H.) added a pair Saturday afternoon as Nichols College skated past Plymouth State University, 8-1, in an ECAC Woimen's East Conference ice hockey game at June Rockwell Levy Rink.

         The Bison picked up their third win of the season (3-15-3 overall, 3-11-2 in conference play) while PSU is still looking for its first victory (0-22-0, 0-17-0).

         Sophomore Amy Van Wormer (Marstons Mills, Mass.) broke up the shutout for PSU with her second goal of the season 3:32 into the third period, with assists from sophomores Tina Worley (Anchorage, Alaska) and Nichole Eustis (Falmouth, Mass.)

         Nault's first goal of the day, a power play marker at 2:42 of the first period, gave the home team an early lead.  Freshman Devin Leary (Dorchester, Mass.) knocked one in at the 13:11 mark, and Nichols held on to the 2-0 lead through the end of the first period.

         Plymouth State stayed within two goals for the first 15 minutes of the second period, but the Bison put the game away in the final five minutes of the frame with four unanswered goals.  Manopla started the rally with her first of the day at 14:40, and sophomore Hannah Tardif (Laconia, N.H.) added one just 25 seconds later.  Manopla and Nault tacked on power play goals at 16:58 and 18:22 to make it a 6-0 game after two periods.

         Senior Candice Ellis (Gloucester, Mass.) scored the first goal of the third period for Nichols before Van Wormer put the Panthers on the board.  Manopla finished off her hat trick with a power play goal less than a minute later to stop any PSU momentum.

         Plymouth State returns home to wrap up the season next weekend at Waterville Valley, hosting Holy Cross Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Salve Regina Saturday at 2:00 p.m. 

--- 30 ---