BOSTON, Mass.—Senior defenseman Bri Colucci (Lancaster, N.Y.) scored twice in the third period, to lead UMass Boston women's hockey past visiting Nichols College 4-2 on Tuesday evening at the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink. 

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 4, Nichols College 2

(UMass Boston 6-6-1) 
(Nichols College 2-7-2) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Colucci scored 27 seconds into the third period and added a goal with 1:28 remaining in regulation to lift the Beacons to their third win in five days. 

Katie Leffer (Key Largo, Fla.) added a goal and two assists, to help the Beacons get back to .500 for the first time since early November. 

Jenessa Hernandez (Chicago, Ill.) added her first goal of the season in the win. 

In net, senior Caty Flagg (Metheun, Mass.) made 33 saves on 36 shots to improve to 6-6-1 on the season. 

Isabel Portt and Kayla Currin scored within an eight-minute span of the second period for the visitors. 

Sophomore Stephanie Runciman made 31 saves on 35 shots to fall to 1-3. 

After an even first period, UMass Boston and Nichols each scored twice in the second period. 

Leffler opened the scoring at 1:06 of the period. She took a pass from Hernandez in the neutral zone, skated across the top of the slot and fired a shot through Runciman's pads for a 1-0 lead.  

UMass Boston doubled their advantage at 9:58. Leffler and Kelsey Ryan (Burlington, Mass.) passed the puck around the zone and Leffler found Hernandez at the back post for a 2-0 lead. 

Portt cut the deficit to one 37 seconds later. She skated in all alone and sent a high shot that deflected off of Flagg and in. 

The Bison evened the game at 18:23. Kara Santoro found Kayla Currin in the neutral zone and she skated past one Beacons defender, before finishing on a one-on-one chance with the goalie. 

Colucci gave the Beacons the lead back just 27 seconds into the third. After Leffler and Grace Fisher (Vienna, Va.) exchanged passes, Leffler found Colucci at the top of the slot and her shot deflected off the goalies' stick and in. 

The Beacons put the game away at 18:32. After the Bison failed to clear the zone, Colucci sent a slapshot that went just underneath the bar and in for a 4-2 advantage. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• UMass Boston and Nichols College tied with 35 shots apiece. The Beacons held a 29-24 edge in face-offs. 
• Colucci recorded her first career two-goal game. Tuesday night's game also marked her third career two-point game. 
• With the win, UMass Boston improved to 15-1-2 all-time against the Bison. 
• The Beacons finished 0-4 on the power-play and Nichols ended the night 0-3. 
• Leffler tied her career-high with three points in the contest. She has now recorded five points (2 goals and 3 assists) in her last three games. 
• UMass Boston is now .500, after winning three in a row and five of their last seven. 

WHO'S NEXT 

UMass Boston will close out the semester on Friday night, when they travel to take on Salem State University at 6 p.m.