ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-seeded and seventh-ranked Nazareth overcame an early scare from visiting Chatham Saturday as the Golden Flyers rallied past the Cougrs for a 4-1 women's hockey victory at the Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex.

The game was a semifinal matchup in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference Tournament and boosted the Golden Flyers to 26-1 overall with their 10th win in a row. Chatham dropped to 16-11. Nazareth will now play for the UCHC title next Saturday at 7 p.m. against third-seeded Manhattanville. The Valiants were a 3-2 overtime winner over second-seeded Utica in the other semifinal. The conference winner gains an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Abbey Luth and Madison Nichols each had one goal and one assist. Sydney Swanson and Delaney Carle also scored and goaltender Adrianna Brehm made 12 saves.

The Cougars came in with an upset-minded game plan and gave the Golden Flyers a legitimate scare by scoring a short-handed goal in the first period. Allison Corser-James stole the puck at the blue line and skated in alone against Brehm and fired a wrist shot over her left shoulder for an unassisted tally and a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Flyers picked up the intensity level thereafter and finally tied the score at 8:52 of the second period as Swanson, a freshman defenseman, netted her third goal of the season on a shot from the blue line off an assist from Luth. Less than five minutes later, the Golden Flyers cashed in on the power play with Carle delivering her second goal of the season off a pass from Julia Holmes. Nichols also assisted for a 2-1 lead.

The lead went unchanged until late in the third period and the Golden Flyers had to kill off minor penalties to Nichols and Nikolle Van Stralen. Nichols finally delivered a key insurance goal at 16:17 of the third as she converted a pass from behind the goal from Elie Fallieras. Hailey Redders also gained an assist. Less than two minutes later, the Golden Flyers sealed the deal as Luth flicked a shot into an empty net for an unassisted tally.

Nazareth finished with a 40-13 edge in shots. Chatham goaltender Katy Reed had a busy night and finished with 36 saves.

Nazareth will be shooting for its first UCHC title next Saturday in just its fourth season of intercollegiate play. The Golden Flyers defeated Manhattanville by identical 3-2 scores on Jan. 28-29.