Senior Cherie Stewart (Lake Forest, Calif.) and junior Jessica Temesy (Blenheim, Ont.) each tallied three goals as the No. 2 Manhattanville Valiants defeated Saint Michael's 9-0 in ECAC East action.

Manhattaville finishes the first half of the season unbeaten at 11-0-1.

"The way that the team has come together and the way they have bought into things is really positive," head coach Nicole Kirnan said. "Morale is really high and this team has really come together on and off the ice this season."

Senior Jennifer Mulick (Aurora, Ont.) added a goal and an assist. Freshman Liane Ortis (Mississauga, Ont.) stopped eight shots for her third shutout of the season.

Manhattanville opened the scoring 7:56 into the contest, as Stewart’s shot trickled over the goal line with the assist going to Mulick.

Following a successful Purple Knights’ penalty kill, Stewart gave the Valiants a 2-0 advantage on with her team leading 14th goal of the year at the 16:43 mark on an unassisted tally.

The visitors took a 3-0 lead just nine seconds into the second stanza, as freshman Amanda Nonis (Brampton, Ont.) connected with Stewart and sophomore Darcie Jarvis (Newmarket, Ont.).

With seven minutes left in the frame, Manhattanvile notched its first power play goal in eight chances as Temesy backhanded a shot by the Purple Knights’ goalie. Senior Kim Hayden (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and freshman Jessica Zimmerman (Wauseon, Ohio) assisted on the play.

The Valiants sealed the win with five goals in the first 9:11 of the third period. Temesy scored 53 seconds into the frame and completed her hat trick at the 8:13 mark, while Stewart, Mulick and freshman Cory Alcorn (Orangeville, Ont.) also scored in the period.

"This is a reallt tight knit group," said Kirnan. "They are willing to go to war for each other and really lay it on the line."

Manhattanville resumes action in 2005 with back-to-back games against the RPI Engineers on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 at the Playland Ice Casino. The two teams are currently tied atop the ECAC East conference.