The Hamilton College women's hockey team recorded their eighth shutout of the season as they blanked SUNY Potsdam 3-0 in a non-conference game on Tuesday night at Russell Sage Rink.

Hamilton avenged a 2-1 loss to the Bears earlier in the month in Potsdam and improved its overall record to 11-6-1 while Potsdam fell to 10-8-2.

Sam Walther '18 made seven saves in the first period and finished with 14 for her nation-leading seventh shutout of the season -- Walther was previously tied for first in Division III with six alongside Kassi Abbott of nationally ranked No. 1 SUNY Plattsburgh. Walther also ranks third in Division III in save percentage (.961) and goals against average (1.01).

Kayla McCabe did not make it easy for the Continentals. The sophomore goaltender made a personal-best 46 saves in just her second career start for the Bears.

Michaela Giuttari '20 scored the game-winner 4:57 into the opening period. Madie Bologa '21 dug the puck out of the corner in Hamilton's zone and passed up the boards to Maddie Beitler '21. Beitler one-timed the puck off the boards to Andrea Rockey '19 breaking out of the zone. Rockey used her fancy stick work to deke around one defender and took the open lane into the Potsdam end. McCabe denied Rockey's wrist shot, but Giuttari was all alone in the slot for a slapper to the upper-right corner.

Hamilton gained a 2-0 lead at 12:21 of the first when Olivia Hawes '19 connected on her third goal of the season, and her first since the Continentals' season-opening series against Williams College on Nov. 18. Potsdam was on the attack when Mairead Carey '18 denied entry into the Hamilton zone, and Carey popped the puck forward to Hawes at the red line. Hawes skated into the high slot, wristed a shot towards the net, and McCabe missed the glove save.

After a scoreless second period, Missy Segall '21 added her team-leading ninth goal of the season 5:17 into the third. Hamilton had the pressure on when Potsdam mishandled an attempt to clear the puck out of its zone, and the puck bounced off the boards to a waiting Segall at the left faceoff circle. Segall ripped a wrist shot over the shoulder of McCabe and into the upper-left corner.

Hamilton (7-3 NESCAC) returns to conference action this weekend as they travel to Brunswick, Maine, for a two-game series against Bowdoin College (9-6-1, 3-6-1 NESCAC). Game one is Friday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. and game two starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday.