NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team dropped a narrow, 2-1 decision to Hamilton on Saturday afternoon at Dayton Arena.

Continentals forward Nancy Loh scored the game-winner at the 11:46 mark of the final period to down the Camels and complete the weekend sweep. 

With the victory, Hamilton extended its unbeaten streak to nine games. The Continentals firmly sit in second place in the NESCAC standings. The Camels are in fifth place with two conference games remaining.

The hosts grabbed the lead early on. Midway through the first period, Conn earned a five-on-three power play opportunity. Following a shot from Kylie McCarthy (Dedham, Mass.) which was saved by goaltender Evie Sheridan, Caroline O'Keefe (Winthrop, Mass.) corralled the rebound and skated around the net. O'Keefe dished it to Melanie Conca (Nutley, N.J.) who fired off a near-post wrist shot, beating Sheridan and putting the Camels up 1-0. The hosts kept the visitors off the scoreboard, taking the one-goal advantage into the middle frame. 

For the majority of the second period, the two teams traded shots back-and-forth. The Camels nearly went up by two scores when Kelly Matthews (Abington, Mass.) earned a breakaway. The senior had a clear shot on goal, but lost her footing at the last moment, and Sheridan was able to deflect away the puck, keeping Conn off the scoreboard.

With time winding down in the period, the Camels went on the power play following a cross-checking penalty on Katherine Solohub. But it was the Continentals who capitalized, after intercepting a puck in the Camels' defensive zone. Maura Holden's shot on goal was saved by goaltender Abby Wieczorek (Winnetka, ill.), but the deflected puck slid to Hyla Mosher who put in the rebound. The short-handed goal tied the score at 1-1 heading into the final stanza.

The two squads played evenly throughout most of the third, but Loh's goal was the difference maker. Immediately folloming a face-off, Loh somehow got a shot off from the right circle that beat Wieczorek to the near post giving the Continentals the 2-1 advantage.

Near the end of the game, the Camels pulled their goalie to utilize the extra attacker. But all efforts to tie the game were snuffed out by Sheridan, cementing the victory for the visitors.

Sheridan earned the win, stopping 19 shots. Wieczorek came away with the tough loss, making 23 saves throughout. 

Prior to the game, Conn celebrated six seniors for their contributions to the women's ice hockey program over the past several years. Wieczorek, Conca, O'Keefe, Matthews, Ashlie Killen (Merrimack, N.H.), and Morgan Bronstein (Pittsford, N.Y.) were recognized in the pre-game ceremony.

Connecticut College (12-9-1 overall, 6-7-1 NESCAC) will conclude the regular season with a two-game weekend series at Colby beginning on Friday, February 17.