WATERVILLE, Maine – The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team's comeback effort came up short, as the Camels fell to host Colby College 3-2 on Saturday afternoon from Jack Kelley Rink. With the loss Conn falls to 5-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play, while Colby improves to 9-3-1 on the year and 2-3-1 in NESCAC action.
Conn opened the contest with the first shot of the afternoon, but Sofia Donnelly (Ringwood, N.J.) was turned aside just 1:16 in. Colby answered with their first shot at 4:31, but Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) came up with the save. With just under seven minutes left, the Mules opened the scoring. Maria Pierce found the back of the net, as Anna Stanton and Courtney Schumacher picked up the assists. The Camels had a couple of chances late to even the score, but trailed 1-0 after one.
Colby capitalized on an early power play, extending the lead to 2-0. At 4:36, Jo Tattersall connected off assists from Molly Lefebvre and Lulu Gray, doubling the advantage. Three and a half minutes later, the Mules extended the lead to three on a tally from Cailyn Murphy.
Trailing by three, Conn answered quickly. Just a minute and a half later, the Camels got on the board as Serena Seiple (Wilmette, Ill.) and Elizabeth Bonner (Westfield, N.J.) found Charlotte Harris (Ystrad Mynach, Wales) who cut the deficit to 3-1. With time winding down, the lead got cut to one, as Lily Stern (Nove Zamky, Slovakia) had Conn trailing 3-2 heading to the third.
Both sides generated chances over the first half of the final frame, but both goalies kept the score as is. Conn had a good chance to tie the game with a power play with just under five minutes remaining, but the Camels were unable to take advantage. Conn pulled Galizio with a minute and a half remaining for the extra skater, but were unable to even the score, falling 3-2.
Colby outshot Conn 21-20 while winning 28 of 45 draws.
Galizio got the start in goal finishing with 18 saves. Harris and Stern both recorded one goal, while Bonner, Caitlin Pierce (Edgewater, N.J.), Claire Sammons (Naperville, Ill.), and Seiple all added one assist. Sammons led the way in the circle winning eight draws, while Conn finished 1-4 on the power play and 3-5 on the penalty kill.
Mandy Busky picked up the win, finishing with 18 saves. Nine different Mules tallied one point, with Murphy, Pierce, and Tattersall leading the way with one goal, while Colby finished 3-4 on the penalty kill and 2-5 on the power play.
Conn returns home on Tuesday night as the Camels host Manhattnville at 7:00 p.m. in Dayton Arena.
