AMHERST, Mass. – The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team's season came to a close as the Camels fell to top-seeded Amherst 4-0 in the NESCAC quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon from Orr Rink. Conn finishes the year 11-12-1, while Amherst improves to 19-5-1.
It was a slow start for both teams with just three combined shots in the opening 13 minutes. Amherst recorded two, with Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) stopping both, while Elizabeth Bonner (Westfield, N.J.) had the lone Camels shot that was turned aside by Natalie Stott. The Mammoths recorded the next two shots, before Caitlin Pierce (Edgewater, N.J.) was stopped by Stott. Amherst ended the period with seven of the last eight shots, but the game remained scoreless after one.
Amherst continued their strong play to start the second period, forcing three saves from Galizio in the opening five minutes. Conn answered with three of the next five shots, but were unable to beat Stott. Midway through the period, the Mammoths opened the scoring on a tally from Marie-Eve Marleau to put Amherst on top 1-0. Conn answered with a strong end to the middle frame, but were unable to find the net, trailing 1-0 heading to the third.
The teams traded chances early in the final period, but the game remained 1-0. The Camels upped the pressure, with shots from Alana Burm (Hingham, Mass.) and Kylie McCarthy (Dedham, Mass.) but they were both turned aside by Stott. Conn had a good look to even the score with seven and a half minutes remaining, as Lily Stern (Nove Zamky, Slovakia) had her shot stopped, but the rebound fell to Bridget McGann (West Hartford, Conn.) but her shot was blocked.
30 seconds later, however, the Mammoths doubled the advantage as Gretchen Dann made it 2-0. With four minutes remaining, Casey Chesner (Great Falls, Va.) had a golden opportunity as a rebound off the pads of Stott came right to her, but she was robbed by Stott. With just over three minutes left, Bea Flynn potted a rebound past Galizio to make it 3-0. Amherst added one more goal 30 seconds later, as the Mammoths came away with the 4-0 win.
Amherst outshot Conn 37-20, while winning 33 of 51 face-offs.
Galizio got the start in goal, finishing with 33 saves. Chesner paced the Camels with five shots on goal, while Burm added four. Claire Sammons (Naperville, Ill.) led the way in the circle, winning 10 draws, as Conn finished 0-2 on the power play and 1-2 on the penalty kill.
Stott picked up the win net, stopping all 20 shots faced. Four different Mammoths tallied two points, led by Dann and Flynn who both tallied a goal and an assist, as Amherst went 1-2 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill.
Conn's season comes to a close with their 16th NESCAC tournament appearance in the last 17 seasons.
