The women’s hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to four, topping visiting Wesleyan 3-2 in overtime Sunday. The Continentals (4-2-1 overall) have three wins and a tie in their last four games.
Box score
Olivia Hawes ’19 scored a pair of power-play goals, including the game winner 2:14 into the overtime session.
Hawes’ game winner gave the Continentals their first overtime win at home since the 2012-13 team closed out the regular season by beating Colby in overtime.
Hamilton held a 2-1 lead for more than 45 minutes until the Cardinals tied the score midway through the third.
The game’s first three goals came in a span of just under two minutes early in the opening period. Hawes scored at 4:58 just as a Wesleyan penalty expired, putting the Continentals up 1-0. After Wesleyan’s Jessica Brennan tied the game 45 seconds later, the Continentals needed just 34 seconds to go back in front. Sara Taffe ’17 ripped a quick wrist shot from the right faceoff circle for her first goal of the year.
Brennan capitalized on a breakaway with 8:03 left in the third period to tie the score, carrying the puck down the left side and slipping a shot just inside the far post on the glove side of Hamilton goaltender Sam Walther ’18. Walther finished with 31 saves, including 11 during Wesleyan power plays.
The Cardinals were whistled for their fourth penalty of the game 82 seconds into the extra session. Hannah Bartlett ’16 – who also assisted on Hawes’ first goal – set up the game winner with a pass to Hawes at the left post. Hawes sent a tight shot to the far post where it deflected off a skate and into the Cardinal net.
Wesleyan’s Laura Corcoran stopped 33 shots.
Bartlett’s two assists were her first of the season. Megan Ahern ’17 also assisted on Hamilton’s first goal.
The Continentals continue non-conference play (Sunday’s game was a non-league game; Hamilton will play its NESCAC games against the Cardinals Jan. 22 and 23) Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game at SUNY Cortland.
