ROCHESTER, NY – Sophomore Madison Nichols scored one goal in the 3-3 tie with Manhattanville Friday and then exploded for four goals to lead the Nazareth College women's hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Neumann College Saturday afternoon in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) game at the Bill Gray's Iceplex.

After Neumann (9-9-0 overall 6-3-0 UCHC) scored to take a lead midway through the first period, Nichols scored her first goal of the day with a power play goal off a rebounded shot from freshman Olivia Miller-Johnson to knot the score at 1-1 with less than six minutes to play in the opening period.

Nichols scored again early in the second period to double the Nazareth (13-2-2, 7-1-1 UCHC) lead. Freshmen Makenna Wiljanen and Madison Schroeder assisted on the play.

Just 34 seconds later, sophomore Hailey Redders scored on a pass from Nichols to extend the lead to 3-1.

Neumann trimmed the lead less than three minutes later but Nichols recorded her hat trick with a goal at the 12:20 mark of the second period to regain the two-goal advantage for Nazareth. Sophomore Abbey Luth and Redders were credited with assists on the play.

In the third period, Redders scored her second goal of the game with Nichols and Luth adding the helpers to make it a 5-2 Nazareth lead.

Late in the third period as Nazareth was on another power play – its third of the game – Nichols notched her fourth goal of the contest as sophomores Jessica Kollberg and Gabriella DeMeo earned assists to cap the scoring.

Nazareth finished with a commanding 47-13 edge in shots as sophomore Adrianna Brehm earned her ninth win of the season with an 11-save effort. The four goals by Nichols is the most for a player in a single game for Nazareth and her six points (four goals, two assists) ties a school record held by sophomores Keeley Rose and Redders set last season.

Nazareth continues UCHC play next weekend as Stevenson and Alvernia play at the Bill Gray's Iceplex at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday respectively.