By Logan Kilfoyle '22

RUTLAND, Vt. – The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team tied host Castleton, 3-3, in the first game of the four-team, two-day Spartan Invitational Tournament on Friday evening.
 
Connecticut College (2-4-2) came out with excellent momentum in the first period and dominated the Spartan defense. Save for a few breakaway efforts from Castleton, the Camels were able to keep the puck on their end of the ice for the majority of the time. Although they were unable to capitalize on a power play, senior Melissa Alexander (Bellingham, Mass.) fired a shot from the right side of the goal that was tipped in by classmate Natalie Witkowski (Cheshire, Conn.) at 7:39 to get the Camels on the board. Freshman Kate Hagness (Madison, Conn.) was also credited with an assist on the play. The period would end in their favor with Castleton unable to penetrate Connecticut College goalie Carly Denora (Verona, N.J.), who saved all three of the Spartans' shots on goal.
 
Castleton (5-4-1) answered Connecticut College's goal early in the second period with a wide open right wing shot from Katie Nealon. The Spartans maintained pressure on the Camels throughout the period, ultimately taking the lead when Julia Carpenter notched a goal at minute 9:29. The Camels were unable to cash in on their three power plays of the period, allowing Castleton's third goal to be scored shorthanded during one of the penalties. However, junior Melanie Conca (Nutley, N.J.) was able to net a goal before the end of the period, assisted by classmate Caroline O'Keefe (Winthrop, Mass.), to end the frame down a goal at 3-2.
 
The third period remained a back and forth between Connecticut College and Castleton with a very even nine and 10 shots on goal, respectively. Only the Camels were able to capitalize on one of these shots when a pass from Alexander set Witkowski up to tie the game at 3-3. While both teams had strong efforts on goal, neither were able to take the lead before the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
 
Connecticut College limited Castleton to only one shot on goal during overtime, as a Spartan player was whistled off at 3:22. While the Camels notched 10 shots, including four of which were on goal, they weren't able to end the game in the lead, ending overtime in a 3-3 tie. A shootout was used to determine which team would advance to tomorrow's championship game, which was won by Castleton, 2-1.
 
Denora made 16 saves for the Camels, while Izabella Segui stopped 32 Connecticut College shots.
 
The Camels will play in the tournament's consolation game against SUNY Potsdam, which fell to Colby by a 4-0 score later in the evening, on Saturday at 1 p.m.