Hamilton, ranked eighth in the country, faced off against the tenth ranked Trinity Bantams in a thrilling match in the NESCAC quarterfinals. The Continentals were outplayed early in the first period, however neither team could find shots on goal as the first shot on goal was registered three minutes in. Mac Donovan ’26 made a series of good saves to keep the Continentals in the game. Then a Hamilton player was sent to the penalty box for interference at 4:52 of the first, spelling a momentum shift in the game. This shift, however, was in favor of the now-weakened Continentals as Bobbi Roca ’24 and Emily Ferguson ’24 blocked shots to start the Trinity powerplay. Cuora Sullivan ’26 managed to steal possession in the neutral zone and knocked it to Abby Smith ’24 who caught up to it inside the blue line in Hamilton’s attacking zone. Smith split two defenders as if it were nothing and skated into the slot. She snapped off a wrist shot that snuck under the goaltender inside the left post for a short-handed goal 6:05 into the period. Smith proved she was going to be a problem for the Trinity defense as she nearly made it 2–0 roughly two minutes later when her incredible wrist shot hit off the left post, mere inches from the net. Heavy Trinity possession followed with saves by Donovan. The Continentals ended the period on a power-play opportunity late and managed two shot attempts, including one on goal, but no substantial opportunities. Both teams ended the period with similar opportunities to score, seven shots on goal for Hamilton and six for Trinity.
Trinity controlled the first half of the second period and Hamilton took the upper hand late in the second. Neither team seemed to be able to get their footing, with limited shots on goal combined with neither team being able to maintain possession. The defensive highlight of the game came off an incredible one-handed save from Donavan in minute 14. A Trinity player was given a minor penalty for slashing with 2:33 left in the period, giving the Continentals the power play to end the second period. A shot from the top of the right faceoff circle by Grace Crowley ’26 was stopped by the Trinity goaltender Hannah Leclair ’24, but she was unable to hold onto it. Ali Joseph ’25 took a couple whacks at the loose puck before Lydia Bullock ’26, who was positioned near the left post, knocked it in for the goal with 1:47 remaining. The period ended soon after. The Continentals led in shots on goal, 18 to the Bantams 14.
The Bantams received a power-play chance three minutes into the third period. Trinity had three shot attempts during the power play, but all three were blocked by Continental defenders. Donovan took it from there as they made six saves in the final 13 minutes and preserved the shutout. Donovan’s defensive play earned them the NESCAC Women’s Hockey player of the week award. The game ended soon after with the Continentals still ahead 2–0. Donovan finished with 24 stops in their first postseason start. This is on par with their regular season performance, when they had 1.39 goals against average, a .937 save percentage and two shutouts in seven starts. Both Hamilton goal-scorers have been on a streak as Smith is tied for seventh in the NESCAC with nine goals and tied for eighth with 17 points putting her second in the conference with five game-winners and Bullock has three goals in the last five games and five this season. Hamilton dominated the power play as they outshot the Bantams 4–0 on Trinity’s two power plays, alongside scoring both on their own and Trinity’s.
The Continentals take on No. 1 seed Amherst College (21–2–2) in the NESCAC championship semifinals at Amherst Friday, March 1 at 4:00 p.m.
