Sports
No Midd-kidding, women’s ice hockey upsets best in NESCAC
By John Wulf '12, Sports Staff Writer
February 2, 2012
With 15 seconds left in overtime, Stephanie Lang ’14 hit a streaking Laura DiCarlo ’12 at center ice.
“My first thought was that I better skate as fast as I can because I didn't think I had enough time to get all the way down the ice.”
With 13 seconds left, DiCarlo skated past the blue-line and away from the last defender.
“Then I heard everyone in the stands screaming, and I felt a wave of confidence come over me as I decided I was going to shoot top right.”
As the clock approached single-digits, DiCarlo trusted her instincts.
“Thankfully, it worked.”
Last Friday night, the Hamilton Women’s Hockey Team beat Middlebury College 2-1 with 10 seconds left in overtime. Middlebury came into the game as the fourth ranked team in the nation and the number one team in the NESCAC. They left with their second loss of the season.
From the puck-drop, Hamilton played with confidence and energy. Instead of playing just to stay in the game, Hamilton played with conviction. They fought in the corners, passed the puck with confidence on Middlebury’s end of the ice and did not retreat when Middlebury’s skilled forwards counter-attacked.
Late into the third period, however, Hamilton still found itself down 1-0. As Middlebury went on a power-play in the thirteenth minute, Hamilton looked like it was about to lose a heartbreaker.
But a one-goal difference is a lot more manageable when you have the best goal- scorer in the NESCAC. Earlier in the game, star forward Katie Zimmerman ’13 came inches away from scoring when she hit the post on a breakaway. But thanks to her quick hands, Zimmerman stole the puck away on the penalty kill and earned herself a second chance.
On the second go-around, instead of opting for a deke, she simply slid the puck past her. Hamilton had to stave off yet another power play late in the third period, but Becca Hazlett ’13 made a number of key saves and kept the game tied long enough for DiCarlo to take care of the rest.
On Saturday, Hamilton once again played Middlebury tight. After allowing two first period goals, Hamilton got within a goal early in the third period, but Middlebury survived a last minute barrage and held on to a 2-1 victory. Despite the disappointment of coming tantalizingly close to a truly remarkable weekend, Hamilton left Saturday’s game with a renewed spirit.
“We out-competed Middlebury in both games,” Hazlett pointed out, “which gives us that extra boost of confidence we needed. Every game is a must win from here on out but we know we have the ability to win every [one].”
Before the team gets ahead of itself, it never hurts to take a second and reflect.
The overtime hero said, “I have to say this past weekend was by far the greatest we've had in my four years here.”
Hamilton plays at Wesleyan this weekend but returns home to play Utica on the 7th and Bowdoin on the 10th and 11th.