PURCHASE, N.Y. (Nov. 14) – Freshman Katie Little recorded her first career hat trick as her line combined for 13 points in the Manhattanville women's hockey team's 10-1 triumph over Nichols on Saturday afternoon at Playland.

Senior assistant captain Monique Rafferty had a career-high game with five points (one goal, four assists) in the contest. Freshmen Lynsey Schill and Little had season highs of four points each in the victory. Little finished with the hat trick and an assist, while Schill had two goals and two assists.

For the third time this season the Valiants gave up an early first period goal as Nichols forward Lauren Lepore (Arlington, Mass.) knocked in a rebound from Hannah Tardif's (Laconia, N.H.) original shot. Tardif began the play after stealing the puck away from a Valiant defender 1:33 into regulation forcing a Manhattanville timeout.

Nichols maintained a 1-0 lead until senior Rafferty tied the contest 3:35 later on assists from Schill and Little. Schill added another goal for the Valiants at the 9:24 mark with an assist from Rafferty.  Manhattanville out shot Nichols 12-6 in the first period and didn't look back.

Junior Shannon Coffey push the Valiants' lead to, 3-1, 4:46 into the second when graduate captain Erin Brawley found her on breaking in on her backhand to beat Bison goalie Christine Rigosi (Ridgewood, N.Y.). Little scored her first goal of the night shorthanded with an assist coming from senior Alex Findlay with 10:38 left in the period.

Manhattanville added two more goals in the second as Freshmen Lauren Nutkevitch scored on the power play and Schill scored even strength. Nutkevitch's goal came off a face-off as her slap shot beat the goalie. The assists were credited to Rafferty and freshman Sonia Occhionero.  Schill's second of the game was assisted by Rafferty and Brawley with less than two minutes remaining.

Manhattanville peppered Rigosi taking 37 shots on goal after 40 minutes of play, after which senior captain Melissa Mansfield (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) took over between the pipes. Nichols took a five-minute hitting from behind penalty allowing the Valiants power play units to add three goals from Little, Coffey and senior assistant captain Sarah Fullerton. Schill, Rafferty and Brawley were credited with assist during the major power play opportunity. 

Little finished capped off the night with the team's 10th goal and her third of the contest with 5:55 remaining in regulation on assists from Fullerton and Nutkevitch.

For the contest, the Valiants out shot Nichols, 60-9, and finished four-for-six on the power play and allowed only the Nichols power play goal to the pass them. Sophomore Kimmy Flanders  made nine saves and was untested after allowing the early goal in the first. Mansfield came in relief of Rigosi and made 19 of 23 saves in the third period for Nichols.

Nichols travels to St. Michael's on Friday, November 20, for a 7 p.m. ECAC East game. 

Story courtesy Manhattanville Sports Information

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