The Hamilton College Continentals scored three goals in the second period and went on defeat the Colby College Mules 4-2 in a NESCAC game at Colby’s Alfond Rink on Friday night in Waterville, Maine.
The Continentals (3-2-0, 2-1 NESCAC) struck first 16:16 into the first period when Mya Berretta ’22 collected a pass from Emily Williams ’19. Berretta picked up the puck at the bottom of the right faceoff circle, deked a defender, pulled to the left of Colby goalie Cierra San Roman (19 saves), and scored her first collegiate goal on a backhanded shot. Hamilton carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Mules (2-1-0, 2-1) tied it up 2:23 into the second on a goal by Colleen Donoghue. The Continentals struggled to clear the puck out of the zone, resulting in a tired defense and consistent pressure for Sammy Johnson ’20 (22 saves). A Hamilton defender blocked a shot by Izzy Tegtmeyer but Donoghue picked up the loose puck, skated around the net and backhanded the puck past Johnson.
Just over two minutes later, Nancy Loh ’22 responded with her second goal of the season. Loh collected a loose puck off the back of the net, put a shot off San Roman, and scored on her own rebound for the 2-1 lead. Loh has at least a point in every game this season.
With 10 seconds left on a power play, Michaela Giuttari ’20 took a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. Kate Piacenza ’21 tipped it past San Roman for her first goal this season and a 3-1 lead at 9:01 of the second period.
Andrea Rockey ’19 stretched the Continentals’ lead to three with 2:26 left in the second. Rockey picked up the puck in the left corner of Hamilton’s offensive zone. She dished it to a buzzing Maddie Beitler ’21 behind the net and Beitler passed right back to Rockey streaking across the mouth of the Colby goal. Rockey transitioned the puck to her backhand and lofted it past a sprawling San Roman for her second goal of the season. The Continentals took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Mules tallied once more 2:39 into the third when Moira Mullaney found Lauren Klein in the right faceoff circle. Klein wristed a shot past Johnson to cut Colby’s deficit in half. With 1:25 left, the Mules called a timeout and pulled San Roman for the extra skater. The Continentals came close to adding an empty-net goal but missed wide twice.
The Continentals will take on the Mules on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. in the second game of the weekend series in Maine.
