Bobcats Tame River Hawks in Back-to-Back Games

Saranac Lake, NY & Lake Placid, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College women's hockey team swept their series against UMass Lowell over the weekend, with both games ending in heart-pounding fashion.

On Saturday the Bobcats hosted their first game against the visiting River Hawks.  UMass Lowell got on the board first as the Bobcats came out flat, but the home team quickly regained their composure and scored two goals in a dominant middle frame.  Rhoda Peterson (Havre, MT) got things started on the power play, wristing a bullet over the keeper on a nice setup on the faceoff from Riley Newcomb (Cazenovia, NY) and Samantha Barrett (Oak Park, IL).  Leah Coulombe (Jay, NY) then made it 2-1 after a solid neutral zone defensive stop and pass from Leola Brown (Brooklyn, NY). 

The River Hawks would get one back and tie it at two apiece early in the third.  Some good goaltending by Lola De Toni (Ottawa, Ont., Canada) and the visiting keeper forced overtime, as neither team was able to gain the advantage for the remainder of regulation. 

After a boarding call against Brown, the River Hawks seemed to gain the upper hand, but De Toni stood strong in net and the Bobcat penalty kill matched the pace of the 4-on-3 power play.  With just 16 seconds remaining in overtime, Samantha Barrett found some open ice in the neutral zone and had a step on the River Hawks defender.  Before she was able to get the shot off, she was tripped from behind and a penalty shot was awarded.

"I was definitely a little nervous but mostly tired because we had such a short bench," recalled Barrett.  "I was a little indecisive on what move to make but after looking up I realized the goalie had left the sides of the net open and I picked my spot."

Barrett buried the game winner on the penalty shot in OT and the crowd erupted in support as the Bobcats took game 1 of the weekend series.  Peterson earned Player of the Game honors for her two-way play on forward.

"Scoring the goal was unreal," added Barrett.  "It was definitely a boost of energy for the whole team which was good because we had to work even harder the next day."

On Sunday, it was another one-goal game that saw the game winner come at the very end of the third period.

Riley Newcomb got things started just five minutes in as the Bobcats came out with a pep in their step.  The River Hawks would tie it at one before Barrett would score her first of the game on a beautiful net drive as she deked through two defenders and slid it in on the backhand.  Lillian Gogan (Cornish, NH) received the assist on the play as she stick-checked the defenders and put the puck on Barrett's stick in the process.  The River Hawks tied it again at two apiece before Coulombe finished a textbook slot pass from Alli Cherry (Grasonville, MD) on a one timer with five minutes left in the period.  The River Hawks would tie it for a final time at 3-3 late in the second on the power play. 

After a dominant third period which saw PSC outshoot UMass Lowell 11-4, Samantha Barrett notched her second of the game and second game winner in as many days as she collected the puck on a dump in from Rhoda Peterson, who also picked up her second assist of the game.  De Toni finished with 27 saves on 30 shots and earned her fourth straight win in net.  Leola Brown earned Player of the Game for her tenacious work ethic at both ends of the ice.

Assistant captain Amanda LaMonda (Saratoga Springs, NY) played in her final game as a Bobcat this season, as she heads to the Caribbean for a semester abroad next semester.  When asked about the season so far and what it meant to get two wins to finish her season, Lamonda was ecstatic.  "This semester of hockey was one of my favorites since I came to Paul Smith's College.  Coach Gibby (PSC women's hockey head coach Gibson Gilmore) came in and turned this team into a family." 

It is apparent and obvious to anyone watching the livestream or games in person that this team has a lot of fun while also playing a high level of hockey.  That is something that has been sorely missing from the team dynamic and is a credit to the job Gilmore has done. 

"This team is something that I will miss dearly while I'm away next semester.  I couldn't be more grateful that I got to lead and play with such a great group of girls this semester," added LaMonda.

The Bobcats finish the first half of their season at 5-1-1 overall and sit atop both the Independent Women's Club Hockey League (IWCHL) Adirondack Division and AAU Women's College Hockey North Division standings as they look for the chance to play at AAU Nationals in West Chester, PA in March.

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.