The Hamilton College Continentals took a strong 4-1 NESCAC win over rival Colby College at Colby's Bill Alfond Field on Saturday afternoon.

A solid defensive showing and goals by four Continentals helped Hamilton (6-2, 3-2 NESCAC) improve their standing in the NESCAC. The Continentals will face nationally ranked No. 3 Tufts University on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in Medford, Mass.

Hamilton started the game with offensive pressure and forced a penalty corner less than a minute into the first quarter. A great shot by Hannah Dillon '24 deflected off a Colby defender, but the Continentals maintained possession.

Tracey Stafford '23 scored the first goal for the Continentals with 3:20 left in the first quarter. After a hard shot by Lexi Takashima '22 was blocked, Stafford gained possession in the circle and took a shot that was blocked. A quick bounce-back gave her another opportunity and she poked the ball between goaltender Emily Loeb and a Colby defender. Stafford has three goals this season and eight for her Hamilton career.

Less than two minutes later, Alana King '24 added to the Hamilton lead with 1:42 remaining in the first. King took a long pass from the right side of the field into the circle with the offensive advantage of 3-on-2. King shot a hard ball straight through the legs of Loeb for her second goal in as many games.

Colby (4-2, 1-2) had a chance at the end of the opening quarter with a shot by Sandrine Brien that was blocked by a tough Hamilton defense. The Mules maintained their momentum into the second quarter and fired an early goal from the stick of Pernilla Shaw less than a minute in. A foul on the Continentals outside the circle gave the Colby offense the opportunity to get a rare ball into the circle. Shaw put one past the left side of goalie Maggie Reville '22, and Kaitlyn Smith picked up the assist.

The Continentals answered with a goal by Maura Holden '23 off a penalty corner in the 18th minute. Delaney Grace '25 took the corner and gave a clean pass up to Keeley Duran '22 at the top of the circle. Duran's hard shot was tipped by Holden on its way to the back of the cage. Holden leads the team with six goals and 12 points, and Hamilton is 5-1 when she scores.

Duran pitched in on defense later in the quarter with a defensive save off a shot by Smith. The Continentals kept up the offensive pressure at the end of the quarter as they notched four penalty corners and three shots, but were kept at bay by the Colby defense.

The final Hamilton goal came off the stick of Dillon with 6:52 to go in the fourth quarter after another great corner pass from Grace. From the top of the circle, Dillon sent the ball between the feet of the defense and into the cage for her first goal with the Continentals.

A late green card on Colby defender Erin Quirk with 3:03 left sealed the win for the Continentals. Hamilton outshot the Mules 13-7 and led 9-2 on corners.