Box Score MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (Dec. 2) -- Wesleyan University posted its first victory of the season and kept its unbeaten string vs. Nichols alive at three games with a 3-1 home victory Tuesday evening in a non-league contest. The Cardinals are now 2-0-1 against the Bison since the teams began playing during the 2008-09 season, with Wesleyan winning that initial contest, 2-0. Last year the teams played to a scoreless tie at Nichols.

Wesleyan broke a 1-1 tie at 2:56 of the second period, just 1:07 after Nichols had evened the count. Senior Sena Ito flipped in a rebound of a senior Emma Ram point shot from the right side to put the Cardinals ahead for good, 2-1. It was Ito's first goal of the season. Wesleyan upped its lead to 3-1 when junior M.J. Cardin was sprung free at center ice for a breakaway with a pass from senior Leah Coe. Cardin moved in on Nichols freshman keeper Francesca Palazzo (Bernardston, Mass.) and wristed a high shot to the goalie's right at 14:35 for her second marker of the season. There was no further scoring in the contest.

Wesleyan had led, 1-0, in the first period on the first career goal of freshman Glenn Hartman-Mattson, as she was set up in the slot for a one-timer on a pass from behind the net by junior Jill Reynolds. That came at 11:24 of the frame. Nichols evened the count at 1-1 just 1:49 into the middle stanza on the first goal of the year by sophomore Stacey McGrath (Cheektowaga, N.Y.). She pounced on a loose puck in front of the Cardinal net and lofted a shot that cleared the left shoulder of Wesleyan sophomore keeper Ashleigh Corvi and trickled into the net.

Wesleyan held a 28-23 edge in shots as Corvi posted 22 stops while Palazzo came away with 25 saves. Nichols was 0-for-3 on the power play but went without a penalty if its own so the Cardinals had no power-play attempts.

Up next for Wesleyan is a visit to UMass Boston for another non-league affair Fri., Dec. 10. Nichols hosts Neumann in a non-conference contest Friday at 7 p.m. in its next encounter.

Story courtesy Wesleyan Sports Information

Box Score