NEW LONDON, Conn. - In another pivotal NESCAC contest to determine seeding for the upcoming league tournament, the Connecticut College women's ice hockey team fell to Hamilton by a 4-1 decision on Saturday afternoon at Dayton Arena.

For the second straight game the Camels played the Continentals. Yesterday's contest ended in a 1-0 victory for the home team. Saturday's game featured more scoring in the first period alone.

After a quiet first half of the initial frame, Conn College got its first opportunity following a penalty on Hamilton for tripping. Playing with the advantage, Melissa Alexander (Bellingham, Mass.) won a face off in the Continentals' zone directly back to teammate Kiley Smith (Marion, Mass.). Smith fired a slap shot which Hamilton goalkeeper Sidney Molnar looked to have a read on. Before the puck reached the net, Camels' forward Caroline O'Keefe (Winthrop, Mass.) perfectly deflected it to change the trajectory of the shot, and past Molnar for the first goal of the game.  

Less than two minutes later, Hamilton answered back. Forward Abby Kuhns skated into the Camels' zone and fired a beautiful wrister that sailed into the top left corner of the net and past Conn goaltender Carly Denora (Verona, N.J.).

The Continentals would add another score by the end of the period. At the 19:25 mark, Mya Beretta delivered a crisp pass to teammate Maura Holden who fired a perfectly-placed one-timer to beat Denora at the near post. 

Trailing 2-1 entering the second period, the Camels pressed the attack offensively. They were able to put a barrage of shots on net, but Molnar was able to turn them all away. Despite two penalties, the Continentals were able to keep the home team off the board in the second.

With just over four minutes left in the middle frame, Hamilton's Sami Quackenbush took the puck from the center line and weaved through two Camels' defenders to set herself up for a wrist shot that she buried in the back of the net to give her team a 3-1 lead.

In the third period, the Camels continued to be stifled offensively. The home squad put seven shots on net, but could not get it past Molnar. Hamilton would add one more tally on an empty net with under two minutes remaining, defeating Conn 4-1.

Denora made 22 saves for the Camels while Molnar turned away 18 shots for the visitors.

Prior to the game, Connecticut College celebrated its five seniors for their commitment and dedication to the program. 

With the regular season concluded, the Camels will now await the seeding for the NESCAC Tournament, beginning on Friday, February 25.