HARRISVILLE, R.I. (12/8/23) – For the first time in two years a member of the Nichols College women's hockey team recorded a hat-trick as freshman Anneliese Klein scored three goals and added an assist as the Bison beat Anna Maria College 6-2 on Friday afternoon from Levy Rink.

Klein recorded her first collegiate hat-trick and the first since Megan Buxton did against Neumann on October 29, 2021, in a 5-0 win. Freshman Rhea Bullens recorded three assists and added a goal to compliment Klein. Classmate Victoria Khou and senior Grace Wiggett each scored in the game. Wiggett and Senior Meghan McElaney  each tallied two assists, while classmate Katherine Segalla, sophomore Taylor Breen, and freshman Ema Jaskova all each recorded an assist.
Klein and Bullens each recorded four-point days for the first pair of teams to each score four points since Kelly Ferraira and Mel McAleer did on February 3, 2018, against Neumann in a 5-2 win.

After a scoreless 20 minutes where the Bison and AMCATS each had numerous chances to grab the lead but it remained 0-0 after 1. Wiggett opened the scoring on the power-play for the Bison. Following a long offensive zone possession for Nichols, Klein and Bullens worked the puck up to the point, where Klein fired a shot that was deflected by Wiggett past the screened goalie and into the net for a 1-0 lead for the Bison. Nichols did not look back from then on.

Bullens scored her first collegiate goal on a wrap around just two minutes later, off a pass from Wiggett to double to the Bison lead. Nichol grabbed a 2-0 lead just 12:34 into the second period. Anna Maria pulled within goal on a turned over puck and a wrist shot beat junior Anamary Pulgar, making it 2-1.

Klein scord her first of three goals with two minutes remaining in the period on the power-play to make it 3-1 Bison after 40 minutes of play. Klein hammered a one time from the top of the right circle off a nice set up pass for McElaney for a 3-1 Bison lead.

In the third period, the AMCATS scored the next goal to crawl back within goal for Nichols. A major penalty was assessed to Anna Maria for boarding and the Bison power-play went back to work with Klein scoring again at the 16:48 mark of the period to double the lead. McElaney and Wiggett worked the puck down the near side wall before passing back to Klein who fired another one timer, this time hit the back bar and bouncing out as quickly as it went in for a 4-2 lead.

Khou jumped in on the scoring party as well with a power-play goal of her own. Jaskova and Segalla each grabbed an assist on the goal. Khou capped a beautiful passing play with the goal off a slick cross ice pass form Jaskova for a 5-2 lead.

Klein finished off the hat-trick with 10 second remaining in the game when she tapped in a loose puck on the back door off a deflected shot from Bullens. The Bison won 6-2 over the AMCATS. Pulgar made 14 saves for her second win in as many starts for Nichols.

The Nichols power-play was excellent going 5-7 in the game. The five power-play goals is the most goals scored on the advantage in a game since the Bison tallied four goals on January 22, 2010 against Plymouth State.

Nichols (5-5-0, 1-5-0 CCC) will hit the road for the CCC match up with Curry College on Saturday, December 9 with puck drop at 3 p.m.