NEW LONDON, Conn. – Despite coming from behind to even the score twice, the Connecticut College women's ice hockey team dropped its home opener to Johnson & Wales by a 4-3 decision in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Dayton Arena.
 
After knotting the score at 3-all to force overtime, Connecticut College found itself facing a 5-on-3 situation to begin the extra frame after an additional player was whistled off with less than two seconds remaining in regulation. While the Camels were able to kill off one penalty to get a player back, the Wildcats were able to score a golden goal while playing 4-on-3.
 
A cross ice pass from left to right by Hannah Tracy intended for Kaylin Garner was unsuccessful, but Garner was able to win the puck back along the boards. She then made another cross-ice pass to Haylee Owen, who buried her shot with 3:10 on the clock to give the visitors the sudden victory.
 
Johnson & Wales (6-3) scored the first two goals of the game by finding the back of the net in the seventh minute of the opening periods. However, Connecticut College was able to tie things up by capitalizing on two power play opportunities less than six minutes apart. Sophomore Sydney Cresta (Swampscott, Mass.) first found junior Kelly Matthews (Abington, Mass.), who evaded defenders along the right boards before finishing with her first career goal at 11:19 for her first marker as a Camel to slice the deficit in half.
 
Senior Natalie Witkowski (Cheshire, Conn.) then one-timed a cross from Melissa Alexander (Bellingham, Mass.) to make it a 2-2 game with 2:48 remaining. Freshman Kate Hagness (Madison, Conn.), who started the play from the right point, was also credited with an assist on the play.
 
The teams traded goals again in an evenly played third period that saw the Wildcats have a 10-9 edge in total shots. Brooke Dineen helped Johnson & Wales regain the lead by roofing a shot past junior Abby Wieczorek (Winnetka, Ill.) on a breakaway, but the Camels once again came right back. Claire Sammons (Naperville, Ill.) sent a pass behind the boards to Melanie Conca, who then found a charging Miyu Miyazaki (Chiba, Japan) in the shot for her first collegiate goal with 4:38 left in regulation.
 
While the Camels had their chances and threatened to net the game-winning marker in regulation, they could not get one more past Sofia Tamayo in the ensuing minutes while playing at even strength. After one shot was stopped by Tamayo and three more sailed wide, the Wildcats went on a power play and eventually netted the deciding marker in overtime.
 
Tamayo picked up the victory for Johnson & Wales, which was outshot by a 34-26 margin, by making 31 saves. Wieczorek took the loss after stopping 22 Wildcat shots.
 
Connecticut College (0-3) will have a quick turnaround and next host Manhattanville tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.