No. 10 Colby at Wesleyan
Colby became the latest team to find that a tons of shots don’t necessarily translate to a win. Against Wesleyan on Friday, the Mules fired 37 shots, but goalie Allegra Grant made 35 saves as Wesleyan earned a 2-2 tie. Wesleyan twice went up by a goal, but Colby rallied as Tess Dupre’s goal 35 seconds into the third tied it. On Saturday, the Mules earned a 2-1 win, scoring early in the first period and early in the second to build a 2-0 lead. Colby couldn’t relax, as Cali Stevens scored just 26 seconds after Lauren Klein’s goal to pull Wesleyan within one. Cierra San Roman made six saves for the Mules in the third to preserve the win.
No. 7 Elmira edges No. 3 Norwich
Just five days after the two played to a scoreless draw in Norwich, the Elmira Soaring Eagles rallied to a 3-1 win over the Norwich Cadets at home, boosted in part by 25 saves from Elizabeth Hanson. Norwich got on the board first, but Eliza Beaudin’s goal at 16:28 of the first tied it. Ariella Haas scored the game-winner at 12:34 of the second, and a power-play goal from Emma Crocker at 14:58 of the third sealed the win. Hanson made 18 saves over the last two periods to preserve the win.
Wisconsin-Superior states case for ranking, then possibly loses it
Unranked Wisconsin-Superior started the weekend with a strong case for earning a ranking in the poll, edging No. 4 Gustavus Adolphus, 2-1, on Friday. The Gusties got on the board first, as Kayla Vrieze scored on a five-on-three power play just 33 seconds into the second. However, Kaleigh Martinson scored to tie it at 6:38 of the second to tie it. Superior then got a power-play goal from Amanda Sergent at 14:42 of the second to put Superior ahead. Gustavus tried mightily to rally, but Catherine Johnson made 15 saves in the third period to hold onto the win.
Unfortunately, the Yellowjackets could not build on that momentum, losing 4-1 to unranked Augsburg Saturday. The Auggies came out firing, putting 14 shots on Johnson in the first period and scoring twice, getting goals from Mikayla Jones and Bridget Wagner. Megan Dulong pulled the Yellowjackets back within one with a power-play goal at 13:20 of the second, but Jones scored again at 18:52 of the second to stall any momentum. Augsburg played outstanding defense in the third, limiting the Yellowjackets to just two shots, and Katie Flynn added a goal at 12:58 of the third to seal the win.
No. 2 Middlebury earns two shutouts
Middlebury continued its strong play, blanking UMass-Boston 2-0 Friday and then blanking Colonial Hockey Conference leader Endicott on Saturday, 3-0. Anna Goldstein made 14 saves against an overmatched UMass-Boston, and Lin Han made 27 saves against Endicott. Madie Leidt scored for the Panthers midway through the first against Endicott, and Delanie Goniwiecha scored once in the second and once in the third for the final margin of victory.
