Katie Zimmerman '13 recorded her third career hat trick and Hamilton College breezed to an 8-1 win over SUNY Cortland in a non-conference game at Hamilton’s Russell Sage Rink on Nov. 20.
The eight goals were the most in a game for the Continentals since an 8-2 win over Trinity College on Jan. 20, 2006. Hamilton has won all 15 meetings with the Red Dragons.
Nikki Haskins '14 and Megan Fitzgerald '16 recorded one goal and one assist apiece for Hamilton. Abby Runyon '13, Courtney Power '15 and Casey Brown '16 were credited with two assists each. Naomi Woolfenden '16 added her second goal of the year, Hannah Jaiven '14 notched her first and Alycia Racicot '16 scored her first career goal.
Becca Hazelett '13 started in goal and made four saves. Sarah Schuchardt '15 relieved Hazlett for the final 31 minutes, 56 seconds, made eight saves and picked up an assist.
Brianna Rossi '13 scored the Red Dragons' goal and Abbie Adams '15 and Meredith Lopez '16 recorded assists. Tessa Muilenburg '16 made the start in goal and knocked away 38 shots in 50:51. Deanna Meunier '16 made five saves the rest of the way.
The Continentals broke into the scoring column 4:12 into the first period when Haskins put a rebound into the back of the net. Fitzgerald and Hannah Bartlett '16 were credited with assists on the goal. Just 1:40 later, Zimmerman scored the first of her three goals. Power sent the puck to Runyon, who skated with it behind the net and found Zimmerman waiting in front for the goal.
Cortland cut into the lead at the 7:25 mark when Rossi scored on the power play. Fitzgerald added one last goal for Hamilton with 50.3 seconds left in the frame when she put back Haskins’ rebound in front of the net.
The Continentals tacked on two more goals in the second period just 56 seconds apart. At the 5:42 mark, Runyon held the puck near the left faceoff circle and fed Woolfenden, who fired a shot from just inside the blue line and into the goal during the power play. Zimmerman brought the lead to 5-1 after she received the puck from Ianthe Lekometros '16 and beat Muilenburg into the upper right corner.
The Red Dragons attempted to get one back with just over two minutes remaining in the period. Niamh O’ Connor ’16 carried the puck down to the Hamilton end on a breakaway, but Schuchardt denied her.
Hamilton scored in bunches in the third period with all three goals within three minutes of each other. Jaiven connected on a shot from the middle of the ice after she received a pass from Brown on the right side for a 6-1 lead at 8:09.
The Continentals went on their second power play at 9:13 when a Cortland player was called for tripping. It took Hamilton 15 seconds to score again. Schuchardt cleared the puck to Zimmerman just inside the Hamilton blue line and she proceeded to bring it all the way to the other end to complete the hat trick.
Racicot completed the scoring at 10:51 after she redirected Power’s initial shot attempt. The Continentals controlled the puck for most of the night and enjoyed a 51-13 shot advantage. Hamilton was a perfect 2-for-2 on the power play, while Cortland managed to go 1-for-4.
Hamilton will break for Thanksgiving and then hit the road for a non-conference game at SUNY Oswego on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Cortland returns to action at SUNY Potsdam on Saturday, Dec. 1.
