Williams Blanks Hamilton, 3-0, in Women's Ice Hockey First Round
Courtesy Williams Sports Information
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Williams sophomore goalie Denise McCulloch shutout Hamilton for the second time in seven days as Williams topped Hamilton 3-0 to advance to the NESCAC Semifinals next weekend at Middlebury College. Last Saturday McCulloch also stymied Hamilton as the Ephs closed out the regular season with a 1-0 win in Clinton, NY. McCulloch has now blanked the Continentals for 136:10.
A scoreless first period was not without some excitement as Eph defender Taya Latham broke up a dangerous 2-1 midway through the period deep in the Eph defensive zone and then the Continentals’ Caitlin Connelly stoned the Ephs’ Caralyn Quan at 18:08 also on a 2-1 rush. Williams held a decisive shot advantage over Hamilton in the opening 20 minutes, 16-5, but could not light the red light.
Williams netted the first goal of the game at 7:18 of the second period when Anna Condino worked a textbook 2-1 with Catherine Mullen for the goal. Mullen slid the pass from Condino through the legs of Connelly to give the Ephs the 1-0 lead. Moments before Connelly had denied the Ephs’ Ashley Wood from out front on a similar shot aimed between her legs.
Hamilton forced McCulloch to dive on the puck three times in the period, but in general had a tough time mounting an attack against the Ephs’ high pressure.
“It all starts in the defensive end,” said Eph head coach Michelyne Pinard. “When we protect Denise and we skate we tend to do well and today we were flying.”
The Ephs doubled their lead at 12:12 of the second period when they worked the puck out of the defensive end and needed just two passes to score. Caralyn Quan found Ashley Wood near the center line. Wood then hit Taya Latham in stride and Latham held the puck long enough for Connelly to make a move and then she slipped the puck inside the far post. The Ephs out shot the Continentals by a 12-6 margin in the period.
The final goal of the game came at 13:09 of the third period when Abby Taylor scored on a scramble in front. Allie Morrow and Melissa Vandermyn were credited with assists.
Eph goalie Denise McCulloch made 16 saves, while Hamilton’s Caitlin Connelly recorded 41 saves. Williams fired off 44 shots on the day and limited Hamilton to 16.
Williams advances to the NESCAC Semifinals for the sixth straight year and will face second-seeded Bowdoin at 4:00 p.m. Host Middlebury will face Colby as the Mules downed Amherst 4-2 to punch their ticket to Middlebury.
