GORHAM, Maine (Jan. 23) -- Sophomore Katie Paradis scored two goals and passed out two assists to help the University of Southern Maine defeat Nichols College, 7-2, in an ECAC Women's East game Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.

The win was the third in the last four games for the Huskies, and improves their record to 6-9-2 overall and 5-7-0 in the league. The Bison fall to 2-11-2 overall and 2-8-2 in league play.

Freshman Colleen Callahan also had two goals for the Huskies. Freshman Katie Davis had her first career goal and an assist, and classmate Kailey Bubier added her team-leading 12th goal of the season and an assist. Sophomore Danielle Ward chipped in with three assists.

For Nichols, sophomore Mandy Manopla (West Palm Beach, Fla.) had an unassisted short-handed goal in the first period, and sophomore Hannah Tardif (Laconia, N.H.) lit the lamp in the third period.

Trailing 1-0 after the first 20 minutes, the Huskies cranked up the offense in the second period pouring 20 shots on Nichols junior goalie Christine Rigosi (Ridgewood, N.Y.). Bubier equalized at 2:46 while USM was on the power play. Paradis gave USM the lead for good with her first goal at 12:46, and Callahan's first goal late in the period, coming on the power play, made it 3-1 after two periods.

Sophomore Kylie Blasen and Davis increased the lead to 5-1 in the first 6:43 of the third period before Tardif found the net at 15:59. Callahan and Paradis would add their second goals in the final four minutes to account for the final tally.

Rigosi finished the game stopping 31 of 38 shots she faced. USM sophomore Kimmy Flanders was credited with 16 saves.

.Nichols will host Saint Anselm College on Friday (4:00 p.m.). Southern Maine will play at home on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) when it host Colby College for a non-conference game.

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