Women's Hockey Wins at Home

Saranac Lake, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College women's hockey team earned their first win of the season on Sunday, defeating Binghamton 3-1 after drawing 3-3 on Saturday. 

On Saturday, after giving up the first goal halfway through the first period, senior captain Alli Cherry (Grasonville, MD) tied the game at 1-1 on a beautiful coast-to-coast play where she beat the Bearcat goaltender on the blocker side.  Lauren Taber (Howards Grove, WI) put the Bobcats up 2-1 after a power play setup from fellow freshman classmate Riley Newcomb (Cazenovia, NY) just a minute into the second.   Leola Brown (Brookyn, NY) would then make it 3-1 at 6:55 as she scooped up the puck after a rebound and made no mistake burying it in the back of the net.

The Bearcats would make it 3-2 at 16:29 and tie it at 3-3 with just 43 seconds left on a contraversial goal in the late stages of the third period.  Taber earned Player of the Game honors as she recorded her first goal of her collegiate career while Ashley Finch (Oswego, NY) stopped 23 of 26 shots in the tie.  

On Sunday, the Bobcats would control play in the offensive and defensive zones, dominating the Bearcats at both ends of the ice as they skated to their first victory of the young season.

Sophomore forward Leah Coulombe (Jay, NY) got things started for PSC at 10:50 of the second period with assists going to Lillian Gogan (Cornish, NH) and Kaleigh Koss (Sweet Valley, PA).  Lindsay Palmer (Clifton Park, NY) would then bury her first collegiate goal with 6:02 left in the second after a relentless attack from the home team.  Palmer tucked a rebound home as Riley Newcomb and Lauren Taber applied pressure in the offensive zone and picked up assists on the play.  

When asked about scoring her first collegiate goal, Palmer commented, "Scoring the game winner was definitely an exciting and memorable moment in my hockey career!"  Palmer is the younger sister of Colin Palmer, a member of the Paul Smith's College men's hockey team.  "I think the team has nowhere to go but up!" she added.  

Samantha Barrett (Oak Park, IL) would get an insurance goal for the Bobcats with 8:52 left in the game as she cut through Binghamton defenders enroute to an impressive goal on a nice solo effort.  Lola De Toni (Ottawa, Ont, Canada) backstopped the win for the Bobcats, recording 20 saves on 21 shots in the win.  Barrett was named Player of the Game for her ability to advance the puck and get shots on the Binghamton goalie.  The Bobcats outshot the Bearcats 62-21 as they controlled all facets of the game from start to finish.

"This weekend being our first collegiate home games, the nerves were high, but I think we worked hard," said Barrett.  "Even though we didn't get the result we wanted in the first game, we came back the next day and battled to get the win.  I'm excited to keep playing with the girls and see how the season progresses!"

PSC women's hockey head coach Gibson Gilmore earned his first win of his collegiate coaching career, and when asked about the start of the season and getting that first win, he kept everything in perspective.  "After dropping the first game of the season it was great to see the team regroup and grab their first win," he reflected.  "They showed resiliency and chemistry that will prove to be valuable during the season.  As a coach, it feel great to get the win, but there is more work to be done as we move onto Springfield this weekend."

You can follow the women's hockey team on Instagram at @pscwhockey or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for scores, updates, schedules, and much more.

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.