HARRISVILLE, R.I. – Freshman goalie Sarah Ribarich (Farmingdale/N.J. Selects) made 26 saves in her first collegiate start, and sophomore Taylor Puckhaber (Lake Placid/National Sports Academy) scored the game's lone goal in the second period as the Cortland women's ice hockey team defeated Nichols College, 1-0, Saturday night in non-conference action.

Freshmen Gina Tomei (Bronx/Sound Shore Warriors) and Kelsey Shares (Victor/Rochester Edge) each registered an assist for the Red Dragons (2-10-2).

Senior Melissa Mansfield (Ronkonkoma/South Shore Warriors) started in goal for the Bison (2-12) and stopped 14 shots in 41 minutes, 53 seconds before giving way to freshman Francesca Palazzo (Bernardston, MA/Turners Falls H.S.), who stopped five shots over the final 18:07.

After a scoreless first period, Puckhaber netted the game winner at the 7:03 mark of the second period. The goal held up as Cortland was able to kill off three minutes of a major penalty in the third period. Nichols was unable to pull Palazzo for an extra skater in the closing moments, and Cortland held on for the 1-0 win, it's first 1-0 triumph since a victory by the same score at Buffalo St. during the 2002-03 season. 

Cortland 1, Nichols 0

Score by periods:

Cortland                  0-1-0    1
Nichols                    0-0-0    0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Taylor Puckhaber 1-0, Gina Tomei 0-1, Kelsey Shares 0-1
Nichols: no scoring

Saves: Sarah Ribarich (Cortland) 26 saves (0 GA in 60:00); Melissa Mansfield (Nichols) 14 saves (1 GA in 41:53), Francesca Palazzo (Nichols) 5 saves (0 GA in 18:07)
Shots on goal: Nichols 26 (5-11-10), Cortland 20 (4-7-9)
Penalties: Cortland 5-13:00, Nichols 5-10:00, 
Power Play: Nichols 0-5, Cortland 0-4 
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 2-10-2; Nichols (Bison) 2-12