McDonald's Hat Trick In First Leads Bowdoin Over Colby 5-1 In Playoff Action

Having played the Bowdoin College Polar Bears (21-3-1) twice already in the last sixteen days, the Colby College White Mules (13-6-2) had to wonder which team would show up for the NESCAC Women's Hockey Tournament Semifinals at Middlebury College. The Mules had lost 10-1 February 12th at Bowdoin, but had rebounded from that ugly loss to tie the Polar Bears in overtime 2-2 February 20th at Colby. Unfortunately for the hard-working Mules, it was somewhere in between as they played well at times, but a hat trick by Gillian McDonald '04 (Hudson, Que.) in a twelve and a half minute span would be all the Polar Bears would need to top the White Mules 5-1. Lynn Hasday '05 (Rockville Center, N.Y.) played an excellent game in net for the Mules, keeping the game close when Bowdoin tried to pull away by saving of shots. Emily McKissock '03 (Dedham, Mass.) saved of shots in the victory for Bowdoin.

The Polar Bears would break into the scoring column first 4:34 into the first period when Gillian McDonald was in position for the rebound of a Carrie Simonds '02 (Belmont, Mass.) slapshot that slipped past two Colby defenders. Simonds would have a clear scoring opportunity minutes later when she one-timed a past that came out from behind the net, but Hasday was in perfect position for the rebound. The Mules best scoring opportunity of the early going came 12 minutes into the period when Kelley Jessopp '02 (Mettawa, Ill.) blasted a slap-shot on net and Carrie Swiderski '02 (Watertown, Conn.) was stationed in front of the net to dig out the rebound, but McKissock was able to cover up Swiderski's shot. Colby would fall into trouble when Heather DeVito '05 (Arlington, Mass.) was called for roughing 14:56 into the period. Bowdoin would take only seven seconds to capitalize when McDonald broke free off the face-off and beat Hasday five-hole for a 2-0 Bowdoin lead. Sensing the momentum, Bowdoin continued with their offensive attack and 1:40 later McDonald notched a hat trick in the first period when she flipped a rebound past Hasday for a 3-0 Colby lead. Colby's defense was able to hold for the rest of the period, but the power-play goal and quick strike soon after put the Mules down 3-0 heading into the first intermission.

Bowdoin wouldn't take long to add to their lead when they were on the power-play early on and Cathie Quinlan '05 (St. John's, Nfld.) walked in from the right side and fired it stick-side into the far top corner for a 4-0 score. Colby was able to settle down after that, and for the next ten minutes were able to control the puck in their offensive zone for the majority of the time. The Mules' best scoring opportunity came when Michele Barmash '05 (Kirkland, Que.) came streaking past the front of the net to steal an errant pass, catching McKissock out of position, but her backhand shot towards the open net was just wide. The Mules finally broke into the scoring column via a nifty play by All-Conference Defender Jill Young '03 (Edina, Minn.) snatched an airborne puck in front of the net and dumped it to Heather DeVito who was positioned at the side of the net. DeVito stuffed it into the corner past McKissock to cut the lead to 4-1. DeVito's goal was one of only two Colby shots on net during the second period, and the score remained at 4-1 heading into the third period.

Colby would be on the offensive early in the third, with a hustling Swiderski continually putting shots on net, as well as Barmash patrolling the front of the net for errant rebounds. Colby was able to hold Bowdoin to three shots on net in the first eight minutes, but Bowdoin was able to put together a streak of shots at Hasday, but she made great save after great save, single-handedly keeping the Mules in the game. Hasday finally gave up a goal when Kirsti Anderson '05 (Glenville, N.Y.) blasted a slap-shot from the point with the teams 4X4 for a 5-1 Colby lead. Bowdoin would advance to the NESCAC Championship game with the win, while the Mules could be proud of a great season and great careers for their seniors.

TEAM---TIME--- PERIOD--- PLAYER (ASSISTS)
BOW 4:34 1 Gillian McDonald (Carrie Simonds, Britney Carr)
BOW 15:03 1 McDonald (Marissa O'Neil) PP
BOW 16:43 1 McDonald (Kirsten Larson, Jen Pelkey)
BOW 1:27 2 Cathie Quinlan (O'Neil) PP
COL 18:19 2 Heather DeVito (Jill Young, Kate Sweeney)
BOW 18:18 3 Kirsti Anderson (Carr)

SAVES
BOW- Emily McKissock
COL- Lynn Hasday