Connecticut College erupted for four goals in the first period and held on to edge Hamilton College 4-3 in a New England Small College Athletic Conference women's ice hockey game at Hamilton's Russell Sage Rink on Feb. 11.
Conn. College (10-9-2 overall, 6-6-1 NESCAC) had been winless in its last three games. The Camels received goals from four different players.
The Continentals (10-11-0, 5-8) have been outscored 18-12 in the first period this season. Hamilton still dominates the all-time series, 16-5-3. The two teams face each other again at Hamilton on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Conn. College grabbed a 1-0 lead just 1:23 into the first period on the third goal this season for Kourtney Martin '11. Martin poked a loose puck across the goal line after a shot by Sam Schuffenecker '13 was stopped.
Courtney Dumont '14 gave the Camels a 2-0 advantage on her team-leading 17th goal with 7:51 left in the first. Olivia Farrell '14 sent a pass from the right-hand boards to the side of the goal to Dumont in the left circle. Dumont stickhandled out of the circle, deked Continental goalie Becca Hazlett '13 and scored on a wrist shot.
Hamilton cut its deficit in half with 5:59 remaining in the period. Hannah Jaiven '14 blasted a slap shot from the right point that was deflected in the slot by Nikki Haskins '14 for her fifth goal.
Conn. College answered right back with 4:00 left on the fourth goal this season by Ariel DiPasquale '13. DiPasquale scored on a slap shot from the right circle that was partially deflected off the stick of the Continentals' Meredith Bitterman '12 as she was trying to block the shot.
The Camels' last goal came with 1:12 remaining after a Hamilton turnover in the Continentals' defensive zone. Kelsey Kirker '11 passed from behind the goal to Celia Medeiros '11, who scored her fifth goal on a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle.
Stephanie Lang '14 made the score 4-2 with her sixth goal at 5:30 of the second. Stephanie Miguel '11 attempted a wraparound shot that was stopped by Conn. College's Amy Leichliter '13, but the puck squirted out to Lang who finished the play.
Hamilton pulled within a goal with 1:09 left in the third period during a 4-on-3 power play that turned into a two-skater advantage after the Continentals pulled Hazlett. After a couple shots and a scramble in front, Becky Cairns '11 knocked the puck into the back of the net for her fifth goal.
Hazlett left the ice again for the final 64 seconds, but Leichliter and the Camels fended off the Hamilton attack. Leichliter finished with 17 saves, while Hazlett turned away 29 shots. Conn. College held a 33-20 shot advantage. The Continentals were 1-for-7 on the power play, and killed all three of the Camels' chances.
