NEW LONDON, Conn. - Connecticut College women's ice hockey only needed one goal to take down Hamilton in a late-season NESCAC matchup. The Camels blanked the Continentals 1-0 on a second-period goal by senior Natalie Witkowski (Cheshire, Conn.).

With only two regular season games remaining, Connecticut College entered Friday night's contest at the bottom of the conference standings. The Camels hosted Hamilton in the first game of a weekend set, with hopes of climbing up the NESCAC leader board.

A defensive game throughout, neither team could find any offensive rhythm early on. Camels' goaltender Abby Wieczorek (Winnetka, Ill.) turned away 11 first-period shots from the Continentals, and the game would remain scoreless after 20 minutes of play.

The second period was also an evenly matched, defensive battle. Both teams would be assessed one penalty each, but the penalty-kill units for Conn and Hamilton kept the game knotted at zero.

Finally, 16:39 into the second frame, the home team was able to break through. Camels' defender Kylie McCarthy (Dedham, Mass.) made an excellent play to stop her attacking opponent. McCarthy poke checked the puck down the boards, which was picked up by teammate Melissa Alexander (Bellingham, Mass.). Alexander made a swift move to get by her defender for a two-on-one offensive opportunity. The senior took a shot that ricocheted off a Hamilton defender and right onto the waiting stick of Witkowski. The forward was able to get the puck past Contintentals' goalkeeper Sidney Molnar to break the tie. The period would end in a one-goal advantage for the Camels.

With 20 minutes left to play, the Camels' defense buckled down even more. The home squad only allowed five shots in the final frame to hang on for a 1-0 win. It was the team's first win at Dayton Arena since January 21.  

Conn College played a clean game, only committing two penalties throughout Hamilton slightly edged Conn in shots on goal 25-24. 

The Camels will play Hamilton in the final game of the regular season on Saturday at 3 p.m. The team will celebrate its seniors in a ceremony prior to the contest.