#3 Middlebury sweeps #10 Hamilton this past weekend. (Photo by Will Costello)

We’ve seen three weeks thus far of Women’s D-III hockey and NESCAC play has now begun! We also saw some upsets and interesting results this past week, most notably the matchup between #1 UW-River Falls & #2 Gustavus (read the recap HERE).

Let’s go over some of the notable events that took place this past weekend.

#3 Middlebury sweeps #10 Hamilton: 3-1 & 3-1

An opening weekend top 10 matchup is always fun, these two have gone back and forth in close games the past few seasons with Middlebury getting the best of the Continentals all but twice since 2020. Middlebury leads the all-time series a commanding 24-4-1. Middlebury Assistant Coach Emily McNamara was Head Coach for Hamilton College from ’12-’23 where she led the Continentals to their first-ever Frozen Four after defeating Adrian on the road in the quarterfinals.

Both games were quite similar, a defensive style as we’ve come to expect. Panthers’ goaltenders had an exceptional weekend, Sophia Merageas making 28 saves in the game one victory, while Sophia Will made 35 saves in the game two victory. Never a bad thing as a coach when you’ve got a pair of lockdown goalies.

In game one, Middlebury got on the board first, a quick 5:23 into the game, Callia Ferraris scoring to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. Both teams would add a goal here, Lydia Bullock for Hamilton (13:37 and Jordan Hower (17:23) for Middlebury, it was 2-1 Panthers after two.

Maeve McAdams would seal the deal with just under six minutes left in the game (14:07), scoring to extend the lead to 3-1 and get an opening day victory.

In game two, it was Hamilton getting the early start on the scoreboard, scoring just under five minutes into the game (4:59), it was Sarah Myziuk. This would be answered by Middlebury a quick four minutes later, Olivia Gordon tied it up, this would hold until the 2nd period.

Middlebury would add two goals, one in the 2nd, one in the 3rd, giving the Panthers the massive league-sweep of Hamilton to start off their season.

Canton’s a wildcard…

The Roos in Canton, NY have had an interesting beginning to their season, an opening night 1-0 (OT) victory at #2 Adrian, losing three straight games, two to unranked teams, then beating #4 Cortland this past weekend, then dropping to Morrisville in overtime…

All the credit to the Roos, they’ve pulled off some program-changing victories, but to make that next leap, they can’t be losing some of the games they have after beating teams like Adrian & Cortland.

The bright side of the weekend, in the victory versus #4 Cortland, goaltender Molly Lenihan made 41 saves, keeping her team in it and leading them to victory. In the game, the 1st period was scoreless, but the scoring began in the 2nd period when Canton got on the board twice. Joey Schemenauer scored a quick 1:20 into the period, then just over the halfway mark (13:44), Bailey Cote scored, doubling the lead, the Roos led 2-0 headed into the 3rd period.

In the 3rd. Cortland got one back, Grace Karakas scored, but it wasn’t enough, and the Roos hung on for their second top 5 victory this season.

Here’s a video posted by SUNY Canton Athletics on Instagram of their highlights vs Cortland.

In Saturday’s game vs Morrisville who’s having a great start to the season with victories over Nazareth and now Canton, the Roos got on the board first, Jordan Caroccio scored at 7:58 of the period, but Morrisville answered on the powerplay shortly after at 11:46, Zoe Leas. There were no more goals in regulation, we headed to overtime tied 1-1.

The Mustangs’ Hailee Easson scored the winner at 1:01 of overtime and both teams continue to turn heads due to their surprising starts to the season.

Hamline gets the big MIAC sweep vs #15 Saint Mary’s (3-0 & 5-3)

Women’s Ice Hockey: Hamline University Pipers vs. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Cardinals. Hamline Head Coach Whitney Colbert (Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com)

Hamline led by Head Coach Whitney Colbert, has high hopes this season after making strides looking to get back to the Frozen Four as they did in the past, they picked up a great pair of victories over a ranked Saint Mary’s team who defeated #9 UW-Eau Claire earlier this season in a midweek game.

In game one, Piper’s goaltender Kendra Nordick had a light work game, only seeing nine shots in her shutout victory. Celeste Rimstad couldn’t say the same, as she had to make 33 saves in the loss, a massive one-sided contest between these two solid teams. This game was much less eventful than game two, where there were many penalties, goals, and action.

Women’s Ice Hockey: Hamline University Pipers vs. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Cardinals. (Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com)

In this one, Rimstad got a little break, only seeing 20 shots, but allowed five goals in the loss, while Nordick made 26 saves on 29 shots in the victory. SMU committed six minor penalties, while Hamline committed four.

The opening period featured a trio of goals, the Cardinals got on the board first, it was Allie Urlaub on the powerplay at (9:48), putting them up 1-0. Hamline answered with a quick pair of goals, Nikki Olund at 16:19 & Ashlyn Abrahamson shortly after at 18:07, Pipers lead 2-1 after the 1st.

Hamline didn’t miss a beat, scoring 5:27 into the 2nd period on the powerplay (Haley Eder-Zdechlik), then 33 seconds later it was her teammate Annika Lindgren extending the lead at 4-1. Hamline would add another in the 3rd period, while Cardinals’ Teagan Phillips scored two goals, but it wasn’t enough. Pipers roll 5-3 and get the weekend sweep.