CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's Abby Smith '24 scored the go-ahead goal with 1:01 left in the third period and the Continentals posted a 3-1 win against the Williams College Ephs in a 2023 NESCAC Women's Hockey Championship quarterfinal at Hamilton's Russell Sage Rink on Saturday afternoon.
 
Season Update

• The nationally ranked No. 6 Continentals (19-4-2 overall), who are the No. 2 seed for the championship, advance to play third-seeded Colby College in the conference semifinals at Amherst College on Friday, March 3. The time has yet to be determined.
• No. 7 seed Williams finished the season with a record of 11-12-1.

 
How It Happened

• Allie Curry '23 took the puck behind the Ephs' net and passed it out in front to Smith who smacked a one-timer into the back of the net from the low slot.
• Shortly after the ensuing faceoff, Hamilton's Bobbi Roca '24 forced a turnover in the neutral zone just as Williams goaltender Erin Pye reached the bench and an extra skater jumped on the ice.
• Hyla Mosher '23 controlled the loose puck and swept it into the empty net from the red line for the clinching goal with 50.5 seconds remaining.
• Maura Holden '23 gave the Continentals a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal on a wrist shot from the high slot 5:16 into the first period.
• The score remained 1-0 through the second period and into the start of the third. Leah Rubinshteyn finally put the Ephs on the board 6:44 into the period. Ellia Chiang and Paige Galle had the assists.
• Hamilton went on the power play with 6:00 to go when a Williams player was sent off for tripping. The Continentals put three shots on goal but the score remained tied at 1-1.

 
Notes

• Evie Sheridan '26 made 22 saves, including 11 in the first period, to keep the Ephs scoreless early in the contest. Sheridan has a 1.29 goals against average and .945 save percentage with a 12-3-1 record in 17 starts.
• Mosher recorded her sixth multi-point game this season with a goal and an assist. She is tied for the team lead with 12 helpers. Mosher also won 18 of 22 faceoffs.
• Smith tallied her eighth goal and third game-winner this season.
• Holden notched her third goal of 2022-23.
• Roca picked up her 10^th assist this season.
• Nancy Loh '23 collected her fifth assist and team-leading 22^nd point.
• Pye turned away 30 shots for Williams.
• Hamilton was 1-for-4 on the power play and killed both of its penalties.
• The Continentals also knocked the Ephs out of the postseason in the 2020 and 2022 quarterfinals. The 2021 championship wasn't held due to the pandemic.
• Hamilton is through to the semifinals for the fourth straight championship.
• The Continentals' No. 2 seed is their best in the history of this event, which goes back to 2002.