Two members of the William Smith College ice hockey team earned ECAC Women’s West weekly awards as announced by the conference office today. Junior Maggie Salmon (Medford, Mass./The Governor’s Academy) was tabbed the Goalie of the Week and first-year Kate Klimaszewski (Wallingford, Conn./Berkshire School) was named the Rookie of the Week.
The Herons posted a 1-0-1 record in their final weekend of ECAC West play. On Friday, William Smith upset #10/8 Oswego 3-1 at The Cooler. The win was the Herons’ first ever against a program that was nationally ranked. William Smith had tied then No. 8 Connecticut College 1-1 back in January. Sophomores Stephanie Hampton (Quispamsis, New Brunswick/New Hampton School) and Lindsay Brown (Medfield, Mass./Massachusetts Spitfires) and first-year Gina Scibetta (Brewerton, N.Y./ Syracuse Nationals) scored in the victory for the Herons. The next day, in Oswego, William Smith and the Lakers skated to a 1-1 tie.
Salmon was spectacular in goal for William Smith this weekend stopping 113 of the 115 shots she faced. On Friday night, Salmon made 55 saves on her way to collecting her career-best sixth win of the season. After allowing an early goal, she shut the door on the Lakers. Salmon made 22 saves in the third period when Oswego dialed up the pressure, trying to tie the game. Salmon’s 55 saves were the most by a Heron goalie in a win in regulation. Salmon added an assist, the second of her career, on first-year Gina Scibetta’s empty-net goal in the third period. On Sunday, she matched a career-high with 58 saves as William Smith and Oswego skated to a 1-1 tie. The Lakers again scored in the first period but Salmon stopped the final 54 shots she faced, including 19 in the third period where Oswego had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:34.
Salmon finished her junior season with a career best 6-8-4 overall record in goal, stopping 656 shots. She recorded a program record 1.92 goals against average, the first goalie to finish a year with a sub-2.00 goals against average in program history. Salmon also produced a record .951 save percentage, which was second best in the ECAC West. This is Salmon’s second goalie of the week award this season. She was honored by the league following a season opening sweep of Salve Regina.
Through 47 career games, Salmon is 12-27-6 overall and has a career save percentage of .927 and a goals against average of 2.95.
Klimaszewski earns rookie of the week praise after scoring Saturday’s game-tying goal. She fired a one-timer from the left post over the right pad of the Laker goalie and into the net. Klimaszzewski also had a chance to win the game in overtime but her wrist shot from the left faceoff circle was turned aside. She finished the game with a team-high five shots on goal. Klimaszewski finishes her rookie season tied for second on the team in rookie scoring with eight points (4g, 4a). Goalie Devon Strachan (West Chester, Pa./Lawrenceville) was the only other Heron to be named Rookie of the Week this season. She won the award in January after she made 39 stops in a 1-1 tie with then No. 8 Connecticut College.
William Smith concludes its third varsity season with a 7-12-6 overall record and a 4-9-5 record in ECAC West play. The Herons set program records with 75 assists, 18 power-play goals, and six ties this season. William Smith goalies finished the year with a program best .936 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against average.
