Courtesy Hamilton Sports Information

Box Score

CLINTON, N.Y. - Lauren Tomford scored a power play goal 7:30 into overtime to lift Hamilton College to a 4-3 win against visiting Colby College in a New England Small College Athletic Conference Championships first round game at Sage Rink on Feb. 24.

No. 4 seed Hamilton (10-13-2 overall) advances to the NESCAC semifinals for the third time in four years. The Continentals will play defending national champion and top seed Middlebury College at Middlebury on Saturday, March 3. Hamilton improved to 5-0-2 in overtime games this season.

Colby (9-11-5) had its three-game win streak snapped. The Mules were appearing in their third straight NESCAC Championships.

Tomford finished with one goal and one assist. She leads the Continentals with 15 goals and 27 points. Defender Kate Marek added a goal and an assist. Meg Shine made 26 saves, including 14 in the second period.

Amanda Comeau posted one goal and one assist for Colby. Becky Julian '09 was credited with two assists.

The Mules' Laura Anning sent the game to overtime on her 13th goal this season with just four seconds left in the third period. 

Colby pulled its goalie in favor of an extra skater with 28 seconds remaining.

Special teams were a factor as Hamilton was 3-for-7 on the power play and the Mules were just 1-for-9. The Continentals came into the game ranked second in the conference with a penalty kill rate of 86.5 percent. Meanwhile, Colby was last at 75.9 percent.

Comeau put the Mules in front 1-0 with her 14th goal this season 31 seconds into a power play at the 4:22 mark of the first period. Marek countered with her fourth goal 3:10 later.

Kerry Leonard gave Hamilton its first lead with her 13th goal on a blast from the point during a power play at 5:54 of the second period. Meghan Guay tied the score at 2-2 with her third goal at 10:28 of the second, but the Continentals regained the lead 11 seconds later on the eighth goal this season by Kathryn Kroleski '09.

Hamilton held a 34-29 advantage in shots, including 8-1 in overtime.