#8 Women's Ice Hockey Stays Perfect
24 hours after breaking into the USCHO.com Coaches Poll at #8 in Division III, the Mules took back to the ice for their first home game of 2021-22. Colby defeated the visiting Huskies of Southern Maine 4-1.
Lexi Cafiero led the Mules with two goals and an assist. She opened the scoring in the first period with her first goal, and added an assist in the second period. In the third, she tallied her second goal to put the game out of reach. Elizabeth Brashich tallied her second goal of the season, and Meg Rittenhouse scored her first of the year. First-year Paige Bolyard collected her first collegiate win in net.
The Mules begin the year 3-0, good for a share of 1st place in the NESCAC.
Rivals Heat Up With Bowdoin/Colby Classic
Patiently waiting for their first head-to-head match next weekend, the Mules and Polar Bears hosted the Bowdoin/Colby Classic over Thanksgiving Weekend. Colby and Bowdoin welcomed Babson and Wentworth to the Sydney J. Watson Arena in Brunswick Saturday, and the O'Neil | O'Donnell Forum in Waterville Sunday.
Defeating Wentworth in Brunswick Saturday 7-3, Colby scored the most goals in a game since shutting out Conn. College in 2018 8-0. Six different Mules tallied goals and Andy Beran turned away 17 shots for his first win of the 2021-22 campaign.
Colby returned home Sunday to face #9 Babson. Jack Sullivan scored his secod goal in as many days to put the Mules ahead 4-3 halfway through the third. The Beavers showed why they are one of the top teams in the nation, tying the game with six minutes remaining, and then scoring the winner with two minutes left for a final score of 5-4 in favor of Babson.
The Mules are 1-2 to start the year.
TICKETS: Colby vs Bowdoin Ice Hockey, Saturday December 4
Colby hosts Bowdoin for the first time in the O'Neil | O'Donnell Forum this coming Saturday. The Women play at 3:00pm and the Men follow at 7:00pm. Tickets are required for entry. *Click below for full ticket information.
*MASKS must be worn at all times in the HAARC, including in the O'Neil | O'Donnell Forum.
Men's Basketball Tops Babson in Come-From-Behind Fashion
Playing in the Margaret M. Crook Center for the first time in the 2021-22 season, the Men's Basketball team welcomed Babson to Waterville. Falling behind in the first half, the Mules found themselves trailing by 13 late in the second half.
With six minutes remaining, Noah Tyson put the Mules on his shoulders, going 4-4 from 3-pt range and collecting three rebounds and a block to close the gap to two. He hit two free throws with 29 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Matt Hanna took the reigns in the extra frame, hitting back to back 3-pt attempts and three free throws down the stretch. The Mules outlasted the Beavers 78-74.
*A strong regional team, Babson defeated Bates 82-71 before falling to Colby, and topped Bowdoin 78-54 to close out the break.
Colby has run off three straight wins to improve their record to 4-1.
Brett Holmes and Matt Hersch Named to the Academic All-District Football Team
Hersch, a senior biology major sporting a 3.77 GPA, was the only quarterback selected in District 1 (MA, ME), and the only NESCAC quarterback selected across any district. He ranked 3rd in the conference in passing yards and completions, and ranked 5th in completion percentage. His two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns against Bowdoin pushed Colby past the Polar Bears to secure its third straight CBB title and first four-win campaign since 2013.
Holmes, a senior history major with a 3.91 GPA, was one of only two NESCAC defensive backs selected across all districts. Despite missing the final three and a half games of the season due to injury, he earned All-NESCAC First Team recognition, ranking third in the league in interceptions. His two picks in week 2 guided the Mules past Amherst for the first time in 22 years, earning Holmes NESCAC Player of the Week honors as well as a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week.
Special thank you to the photographers who helped make this production possible: Cole Burkhart '24, Steve Cheney P25, Nancy Dauphinais '25, Paula Dauphinais '25, Jamie Fiedorek '25, Michael Garrett P23, Anna Patten '23, Ellie Sawyer P25, Aicha Thiero '24