NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team opened 2024, skating to a 2-2 tie against Wesleyan University in a non-conference game from Dayton Arena. With the tie, Conn moves to 5-3-2 on the year, while Wesleyan moves to 4-3-1

Wesleyan (4-3-1) had the first opportunity of the contest, after Conn (5-3-2) was called for a penalty just 1:54 into the game. On the ensuing power play, the Cardinals got three shots on goal, but Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) was sharp. Eight minutes into the period, the Camels got their first extra attacker opportunity, and wasted no time taking advantage. 40 seconds into the power play, Casey Chesner (Great Falls, Va.) fired a shot past Rei Halloran to put Conn up 1-0 at 8:51, with Kylie McCarthy (Dedham, Mass.) and Kate Hagness (Madison, Conn.) picking up the assists. A minute and a half later, on another power play, Casey Godfrey (Redondo Beach, Calif.) found the back of the net, off assists from Jess Pistorino (Charlestown, Mass.) and McCarthy, making it 2-0 at 10:20. Conn took the 2-0 advantage into the first intermission.

Both teams traded chances in the second period, but neither side was able to find the back of the net. Wesleyan had the best chances of the middle stanza, earning two power plays, but Conn led 2-0 heading to the third period.

Early in the third period, the Cardinals cut the deficit in half, as Amelia Molin beat Galizio, ending Galizio's shutout streak at 194 minutes and 43 seconds. Wesleyan continued to put pressure on Conn, looking to tie the game. With just under eight minutes remaining in regulation, the Cardinals got the equalizer. Brigitte Goeler-Slough's shot hit the post, but Christina Tournas poked the rebound past Galizio, tying the game at two. Both sides looked for a winner in regulation, but the game headed to overtime tied at two.

 The extra session was frenetic, with plenty of chances as both teams looked for the winning goal. With a minute and a half remaining, Conn got on the power play looking to win it, but Sydney Cresta's (Swampscott, Mass.) effort was turned aside. After a Camels penalty thirty seconds later, the teams returned to even strength, as the game finished 2-2.

Conn outshot Wesleyan 29-28, while the Cardinals won 30 of 55 draws.

Galizio continued her strong run of play in net, finishing with 26 saves on 28 shots. McCarthy led the way with two assists, while Chesner and Godfrey both recorded one goal, as Hagness and Pistorino each added an assist. Cresta, Alana Burm (Hingham, Mass.), and Charlotte Harris (Ystrad Mynach, Wales) paced Conn with four shots on goal each. Claire Sammons (Naperville, Ill.) was 50% in the face-off circle, winning eight of 16 draws, while the Camels went 5-5 on the penalty kill and 2-4 on the power play.

Halloran got the start in goal, making 27 saves on 29 shots. Tournas led the Cardinals with two points on one goal and one, while Wesleyan went 0-5 on the power play and 2-4 on the penalty kill.

Conn hits the road for a weekend conference matchup with Bowdoin, beginning on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in Brunswick, Maine.