SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College and Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey squads won on the opening day of the seventh annual Saint Michael's Holiday Classic on Friday at Cairns Arena. The Purple Knights downed Colby College, 3-1, while the Pioneers knocked off Nichols College, 5-2.

In the second contest of the day, senior Madelena Santore (Millington, N.J./New Jersey Rockets) scored twice for the hosts, who nabbed their first win in improving to 1-9-1, and junior Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn./Connecticut Polar Bears) made 35 saves. Sophomore Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) also scored, converting an assist from sister Darah Thomas (Amherst, Mass./UMass Boston), a junior, for the go-ahead tally with 2:38 remaining in the opening period. Saint Michael's led 3-0 into the third period.

Colby, which held a 36-16 advantage in shots and has now been involved in all seven SMC Holiday Classics, broke Stevens' shutout bid by scoring at 10:19 of the third period. Freshman Jackie Tavella (East Longmeadow, Mass./Deerfield Academy) netted the marker for the Mules, who are now 3-5-1. Sophomore Brianne Wheeler (Brussels, Ontario/Kimball Union Academy) made 13 saves.

During the opener, Sacred Heart scored the first five goals en route to improving to 4-9. Freshman Melissa Robbins (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) scored twice, while junior Maura Leahy (Ashburnham, Mass./Choate Rosemary Hall) had a goal and an assist. Senior Nicole Palazzo (Rocky Hill, Conn./Westminster) dished out three assists, and sophomore Alexius Schutt (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) had 37 saves.

Sophomore Megan Gerein (Dubuque, Iowa/Madison Capitols) and freshman Amber Aaskov (Falmouth, Maine/Hebron Academy) tallied in the third period for Nichols, which is now 4-6-1. Freshman Tori Gianformaggio (Huntington Beach, Calif./Boston Shamrocks) made 17 saves while playing the opening 32:41.

The seventh annual SMC Holiday Classic concludes tomorrow with two more games. Colby and Nichols play at 1 p.m., and the hosts meet Sacred Heart at 4 p.m. The team champion, most valuable player and five-member all-tournament team will be announced following the completion of the Classic.