BOSTON, Mass. – The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team returned to the ice for the first time in 2026, defeating host Suffolk 5-2 on Friday night from Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

Suffolk came out of the gates quickly, opening the scoring just two minutes into the contest. Alexia Hill won on offensive zone face-off to Bella Schmidt whose shot deflected off a Conn defender and in to make it 1-0. The Camels responded with pressure, and evened the score with just under six minutes remaining. Jess Pistorino (Charlestown, Mass.) connected with Christine Oar (Scituate, Mass.) who had her shot stopped, however the rebound fell straight to the stick of Olivia Montembeault (Glencoe, Ill.) who tapped it home to make it 1-1 after one.

Three and a half minutes into the middle period, Conn took the lead. Bridget McGann (West Hartford, Conn.) forced a turnover at center ice, before making a move around the Suffolk goalie and firing into the net. McGann's shot was initially ruled a no goal, but after a conversation between the referees, the goal was given to make it 2-1. 

Midway through the period the Camels earned a power play and capitalized to extend the lead to 3-1. Lily Stern (Nove Zamky, Slovakia) fed a pass to Casey Chesner (Great Falls, Va.) who threw the puck on goal, where Alana Burm (Hingham, Mass.) tipped the puck home for the goal. Suffolk had a late chance to cut into the deficit with a power play, but Devon Galizio (Wayland, Mass.) and the Camels held strong to lead 3-1 heading to the third.

Five and a half minutes into the final frame, Conn pushed the lead to 4-1. Sydney Frank (Stillwater, N.Y.) dug a puck free in the corner, working towards the middle of the ice, before firing over the blocker of Katelyn Michals, as Maya Lileika (Fairfield, Conn.) and Olivia Fagan (White Plains, N.Y.) picked up the assists. The Rams responded just a minute later on a power play as Hill connected to make it 4-2. Conn controlled much of the play down the stretch before Oar found Burm who scored an empty net goal with two and a half minutes remaining to give the Camels the 5-2 win.

Conn outshot Suffolk 53-28 while winning 33 of 51 face-offs.

Galizio picked up the win in goal finishing with 26 saves. Burm led the way with two goals, while Oar chipped in two assists. Frank, McGann, and Montembeault all added one goal while five other Camels notched one assist. Conn finished 1-4 on the power play and 2-3 on the penalty kill.

Michals got the start in net recording 48 saves. Hill and Schmidt led the Rams with a goal and an assist each, while Suffolk went 1-3 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill.

Conn (5-1-2, 2-1-1 NESCAC) returns to Dayton Arena for a non-conference matchup against Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.