The women's ice hockey team (11-8-3, 9-5-0 NESCAC) broke even against Hamilton (9-12-1, 6-8-0 NESCAC) last weekend, winning the first game but dropping the second.
It didn't take long for the Polar Bears to establish a lead in the first game. In the first period, Kayte Holtz '13 fed Madeline Lane '14 on a rush to the goal and Lane's slap shot beat Hamilton's Becca Hazlett for the first goal.
Bowdoin doubled its lead midway through the second period when, after a block by Hazlett, Kim Tess-Wanat '13 scored. Chelsea MacNeil '15 increased the Bowdoin lead to 3-0 in the third period after she knocked home a rebound that resulted from a pair of blocked shots by Holtz.
A few minutes later, the Continentals began a short-lived rally with a goal by Nikki Haskins.
Twelve seconds later, Tess-Wanat and Holtz played a give-and-go to break through the Hamilton defense. Tess-Wanat's one-timer found the back of the net to make the score 4-1. Then, with one minute to go, Colleen Finnerty '15 collected a pass outside the left goal post and lifted the puck into the top of the net for a final score of 5-1. Bowdoin goalkeeper Tara Connolly '13 had 22 saves, Hazlett collected 32 for Hamilton, and the Polar Bears outshot the Continentals 37-23. Holtz dominated the game, as she had four assists.
In the second contest, Hamilton broke Bowdoin's five-game winning streak. Two minutes into the first period, Hamilton's Haskins stole a puck and scored her second goal in as many nights. Later on in the first, Bowdoin's Finnerty tied the game with her fourth goal of the season. Captain Dominique Lozzi '12 was credited the assist.
Both teams stayed tied in the second due to strong goalkeeping. Kayla Lessard '13 started between the pipes for Bowdoin and had 21 saves. For Hamilton, Hazlett recorded 23 saves.
Early on in the third period, Lessard stopped three Hamilton shots within the first minute to keep the score even. Mallory Andrews '14 tried to break up the tie, but Hazlett responded with a tough save.
About halfway through the final period, Hamilton broke the deadlock thanks to a power-play goal after defenseman and captain Alex Fahey '12 was called for interference and spent two minutes in the penalty box. With two minutes to go, Bowdoin pulled Lessard for an extra skater but was unable to score. Hamilton then found the empty net with 44 seconds to go to end the game 3-1.
Bowdoin will face the NESCAC's No. 2-ranked team, Amherst (18-4-0, 12-2-0 NESCAC), this weekend at Watson Arena. The teams play tonight at 7 p.m. and tomorrow at 3 p.m.