NEW LONDON, Conn. – Caitlin Pierce (Edgewater, N.J.) scored with 1:19 left in overtime and the Connecticut College women's ice hockey team stunned No. 1 and previously unbeaten Middlebury 2-1 on Saturday afternoon from Dayton Arena. With the win Conn improves to -7 overall and 1-5 in conference play, while Middlebury falls to 11-1 on the year and 5-1 in conference action.
Middlebury opened the game with the first two shots on goal, but Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) turned them both away. Conn got their first shot just past the five minute mark, but Pierce had her effort stopped. Both sides held strong for the rest of the period, as the game was scoreless after one.
Galizio remained strong to start the middle frame, coming up with two early saves in the Conn net. With just under six minutes left in the period, the Panthers opened the scoring. The puck found its way to Raia Schluter who turned and fired past Galizio to make it 1-0 at 14:18, as Kylie Quinlan and Jordan Hower picked up the assists. Conn ended the period strong, but were unable to even the score, trailing 1-0 heading to the third.
Middlebury opened the final period with an early barrage on Galizio, but the junior held strong keeping the Camels in the contest. Just past the six minute mark, Conn found their answer. Claire Sammons (Naperville, Ill.) picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone before skating in and firing over the blocker of Sophia Will to tie the game at 6:07. Both sides pushed over the final 14 minutes to try and find a winner in regulation, but both goalies kept the game even as the match headed to overtime.
The Panthers opened the extra session with four early shots, but again Galizio was fantastic in goal, turning each effort aside. Ashley Engle (Basking Ridge, N.J.) had the Camels first effort of the period, but her shot was stopped. With just under a minute and a half remaining, Sammons fed Pierce down near the corner. Pierce skated towards the net where her initial shot was stopped, but she followed up with the rebound, banging it home to give Conn the 2-1 win victory.
Middlebury outshot Conn 37-17 while Conn won 24 of 44 draws.
Galizio was outstanding in goal, finishing with 36 saves. Sammons and Pierce paced Conn with two points on a goal and an assist each, while both Alana Burm (Hingham, Mass.) and Lily Stern (Nove Zamky, Slovakia) had one assist. Sammons led the way with nine face-off wins, while Conn blocked 17 shots, led by Engle's three.
Will got the start in goal, finishing with 15 saves. Schluter tallied the lone Middlebury goal, while Hower and Quinlan both added one assist.
Conn returns to action on Friday night as the Camels travel to Waterville, Maine to take on Colby at 7:00 p.m.
