FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (10/31/2024) – The Nichols College women's ice hockey team opened the 2024-25 season in dominating fashion as they topped Framingham State University 6-0 on Thursday night from Loring Arena. The Rams played in their first NCAA game against the Bison.

Graduate student Grace Melanson scored four times to lead the way for the visitors. Senior Melissa Montesi scored the opening goal of the Bison, and freshman Angalisa Caceda each scored as well for the Bison.

Sophomore Cela MacDougall, and freshmen Sienna Reeves and Alexis Pacheco each posted two assists on the night for their first collegiate points. Sophomore Anneliese Klein, and freshmen Kerstin Ambruso, Angalisa Caceda and Alexis Pacheco all added an assist in the win.  

Montesi opened the 2024-25 season with a snipe over the netminder's shoulder to give Nichols a 1-0 lead in the first period. Montesi gathered in a turned over puck and a toe drag shot beat the netminder. Nichols led just 2:54 into the opening frame.

Nichols then scored back-to-back goals 17 seconds apart coming off the stick of Caceda and Melanson. Caceda's goal is her first collegiate goal for the freshman forward. Nichols took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Caceda and Melanson's goals both happened at the top of the crease with redirections off passes that found the back of the net. 

Melanson wouldn't stop there she scored the final three goals to finish the night with four goals including a natural hat-trick, to lead the way for the Bison. Melanson becomes the first Bison skater with four goals in a game since the 2021-22 season when Megan Buxton did against Neumann.

Senior McKenize Muir made 11 saves to secure her second career shutout victory for the Bison.

Nichols (1-0-0) will return home to face off against the Rams once again, on Friday night from Levy Rink, puck drop is set for 5:40 p.m.