Photo by Kirubel Tesafaye ’21
Hamilton’s women’s hockey team (4–2, NESCAC 4–0) won back-to-back home games this past weekend on Fri. Dec. 1 and Tues. Dec. 2 against conference rival Colby College (1–4–1, 0–3–1 NESCAC) to improve their record to 4–2 overall and an undefeated 4–0 in the NESCAC. They are the only remaining undefeated NESCAC team and currently sit on top of the division standings. They shut out the Mules in both games, scoring five goals between the two matches, with two goals and an assist coming from Andrea Rockey ’19. With these two wins, Hamilton has now shut out Colby in six straight games.
The Fri. Dec. 1 game against the Mules at the Russell Sage Rink was held even, with no goals allowed through three periods. The standout star from the 60 minutes of regulation time was goaltender Sam Walter ’18, who held Colby College scoreless while facing 23 shots. Her overall goals against average (1.21) and overall save percentage (0.959) are first in the NESCAC; she kept the Continentals in the game. This shutout was the 17th of her career. As the final buzzer sounded, the game moved into overtime. A quick pass from talented first-year Kate Piacenza ’21 to Kelly Mackey ’19 resulted in a blocked shot on goal by Mackey from the low slot, and Rockey found the rebound for a goal just 40 seconds into overtime. Mackey’s assist was her first point of the season after missing the first four games due to injury. Piacenza’s three assists are tied for first on the team, alongside Michaela Giuttari ’20 (who leads the team in goals) and Rockey.
The next day found the Continentals back on the Russell Sage Rink to face Colby again. The Mules, coming off of the shutout on Friday, were eager to turn the tides in their favor, but again came up short, dropping the contest 4–0. Giuttari scored the first goal of the game about seven minutes into the first period off of a shot from Taegan Blackwell ’19 and a pass from Rockey. Rockey gathered her second goal of the weekend off another rebound to give Hamilton a 2–0 lead heading into the second period. First-year Missy Segall ’21 scored halfway through the second on the power play with a strong backhand shot that went high over the shoulder of the Colby goaltender. The third period began with a 3–0 Hamilton advantage. Alayna Trice ’20 forced a turnover in Colby’s zone with a perfectly-executed poke check. The puck went right to Timary Malley ’20, who found the back of the net by going top shelf. Walther was again fantastic, stopping 20 shots on goal, including 10 minutes worth of power plays. Sammy Johnson ’20 took over for Walter halfway through the third and stopped both shots that she faced to complete the shutout.
Statistics-wise, Hamilton could not be in a better position. They are first in the NESCAC, and their biggest threats are Connecticut College (4–1, NESCAC 3–1), Middlebury College (3–3, NESCAC 3–1), and Bowdoin College (3–0–1, NESCAC 1–0–1), all of whom they play after winter break. In the NESCAC, Hamilton has the best offense (3.25 goals scored per game), the best defense (0.75 goals allowed per game), the best penalty kill (100%), the best special teams (+5 net), the best goals scored (13), and the best goals allowed (3). Walther is the best goaltender overall, but her statistics are even better in the NESCAC (0.78 goals against average and 0.974 save percentage). Hamilton’s women’s hockey team is undeniably the powerhouse of the conference. If the Continentals maintain their outstanding play, they will break into the national top ten.
On Mon. Dec. 4, Rockey was selected as NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week for her outstanding performance this weekend. Rockey has tallied 21 points in 53 games in her Hamilton career, and is tied for a team lead with three assists this season.
Hamilton’s next game is this Fri. Dec. 8 away at SUNY Oswego at 7:00 p.m. Their next home games when classes are in session will be Fri. Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m. and Sat. Jan. 17 at 3:00 p.m., both against dangerous conference rival Connecticut College.
