Women’s Hockey On Seven Game Heater

Saranac Lake, NY & Lake Placid, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College women's hockey team swept Independent Women's Club Hockey League (IWCHL) opponents over the weekend and all but guaranteed their trip to the first-ever AAU College Hockey Women's National Tournament in the process.

On Saturday night the Bobcats celebrated seniors Rhoda Peterson (Havre, MT), Ashley Finch (Oswego, NY), and Alli Cherry (Grasonville, MD) with a thrilling 4-3 win against rival Norwich.  In a game that saw 37 total penalty minutes, the back-and-forth battle between the top two teams in the IWCHL Adirondack West Division came down to the last minute.  

Samantha Barrett (Oak Park, IL) increased her goal streak to four games as she notched the first goal at 13:21 of the opening frame.  Norwich evened the score at 1-1 two minutes later before Leah Coulombe (Jay, NY) would bury her first goal of the night on the power play, assisted by Lillian Gogan (Cornish, NH).  The Cadets would score two goals in quick succession to go up 3-2 after two periods of play, but the Bobcats had their fans on their side as the Saranac Lake Civic Center erupted in applause as Coulombe would net her second of the game on the power play on a nice setup by Alli Cherry.  

With just over three minutes left in regulation the Bobcats drew a five minute major penalty and it looked like Norwich had the advantage.  That is until Coulombe gathered the puck after senior goaltender Ashley Finch made a redirected save to the side of the net and drove the length of the ice and buried the shorthanded game winner with 46 seconds left in the game.

"It felt AMAZING to win on our senior night when we all had our families and friends there supporting us," said Finch.  

Family and friends came from as far away as Florida and Montana, as Rhoda Peterson's mother flew in to catch her daughter's game and Finch's cousin made the trip from Florida.  "This game is especially important to me because it's the first game my mom has been at in my college hockey career," said Peterson.  "It was really special to play such a good game that I'm proud of in front of my biggest supporter," she added.

Finch echoed those sentiments, reflecting on the support she was given.  "I'm so moved by how much support I got after the game from parents, siblings, neighbors, etc. and it made me feel so proud of sticking around to play such a good game of college hockey!" Finch exclaimed.  For her effort, she was named Player of the Game as she stopped 30 of 32 shots in a game that saw the Cadets outshoot the Bobcats 32-24.  

"I was determined to do everything I could so that Alli, Rhoda, and I could win one final battle together on our home turf," added Finch.

On Sunday, even a depleted bench couldn't help the visiting Union Garnet as Leah Coulombe would once again notch a hat trick as the Bobcats won by a a score of 5-2.  Samantha Barrett and Riley Newcomb (Cazenovia, NY) scored goals while Newcomb added three assists and Coulombe, Lindsay Palmer (Clifton Park, NY), Rhoda Peterson, and Alli Cherry contributed solo helpers.  It was Cherry's second game of the day as she competed in a basketball game just hours earlier (the Bobcats would win that game against NHTI as well).

"This weekend was full of positive teamwork which saw a sweep on the ice and on the court," said Cherry.  "The PSC athletic department has never stopped supporting any of the athletes and I saw it in action this weekend.  Coach Gibby never thought it was too much for me to play in a basketball game the same day we had a hockey game, and never did the athletic department doubt my judgement."

Thinking back about the Senior Game on Saturday night, Cherry noted that "As I looked in the stands I couldn't help but smile seeing my parents, uncle, basketball teammates, students, coaches, and all those who have guided me in these four years with athletics."

Cherry has competed on a multitude of teams during her tenure at Paul Smith's College, and this year's women's hockey team has a chance to win a national championship.  Cherry has seen the program grow over the years and reflected on where it was to where it is now when asked about the process of building a team.  "I've seen the women's hockey team grow each year - from winning a few games one year to making our first IWCHL Final Four last year to now being first in the conference, this program has shown its capabilities and we will continue to keep it going as we play out our final games of the season," she said.  

The Bobcats sit atop the IWCHL West Division and the AAU North Regional standings where they will likely receive the #1 seed going into nationals in West Chester, PA in March.  Before that, they will compete for their first-ever IWCHL league title in the IWCHL Final Four in Massachusetts in February.  They are currently 7-1-1 overall and have enjoyed a seven-game win streak.  

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