NEW LONDON, Conn. – First year Casey Chesner (Great Falls, Va.) had a career day, tallying four goals to propel the Connecticut College women's ice hockey team to a 8-1 victory over Bowdoin on Saturday afternoon at Dayton Arena.
The Camels completed the weekend sweep of the Polar Bears, outscoring their NESCAC opponents 14-2 over the two-game span. Saturday's win marked Conn's largest margin of victory in program history over Bowdoin.
Senior Melanie Conca (Nutley, N.J.) added two goals, and currently leads the NESCAC in scoring despite playing in less games than any other member in the top-10 of the category. Miyu Miyazaki (Chiba, Japan) was a facilitator on offense, registering three assists.
Conca led off the scoring barrage in the first period following a penalty on Bowdoin. After Conca barely missed on an attempt from the right face off circle, Sydney Frank (Stillwater, N.Y.) gathered the rebound and immediately dished back to Conca who skated into the slot. The senior fired a wrister, beating Bowdoin goaltender Sally Solotaroff-Webber to the glove side giving the Camels a 1-0 lead.
At the 17:11 mark of the opening stanza, Chesner doubled up the advantage for the hosts after receiving a pass from Miyazaki. Chesner located the shot perfectly in the top right corner of the net to extend the lead to two.
Just over two minutes later, Miyazaki and Chesner connected once again. As Miyazaki skated behind the Polar Bears net, she sent a backhanded pass to the near post. The puck found a streaking Chesner who slipped it inside the right pipe for her second goal of the game. Conn tallied 14 shots on net in the first period alone and would take a 3-0 lead heading into the second period.
The Camels did not slow down in the middle frame. Chesner completed the hat trick at the 3:15 mark off another assist from Miyazaki to bring the lead to 4-0. Three minutes later, the Camels went on the power play. After shot attempts from Serena Seiple (Wilmette, Ill.) and Morgan Bronstein (Pittsford, N.Y.) were stopped by the goaltender, Chesner was perfectly positioned to collect the rebound and put in her fourth goal of the game.
Conca and Claire Sammons (Naperville, Ill.) tallied scores to round out the scoring for the Camels in the second. Bowdoin was able to get on the scoreboard at the 13:43 mark on a goal by Gia Massari, but the hosts would take a 7-1 lead heading into the final period.
In the third, with the game well in hand, Kelly Matthews (Abington, Mass.) found the back of the net for Conn's eighth and final goal.
The scoring outburst marked the first time in program history that the Camels have scored eight or more goals in a single game against a NESCAC opponent.
Conn goaltender Abby Wieczorek (Winnetka, Ill.) stopped 15 shots in net. First year Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) relieved Wieczorek in the third period and made the first two saves of her collegiate career. The Camels were extremely effective in their power play opportunities, converting on all three chances.
Following Saturday's incredible performance, Chesner is currently tied for second in the conference in total goals and tied for first among first years in scoring.
Connecticut College (7-2 overall, 5-1 NESCAC) will next play Amherst on Friday, January 13.
