The last time Colby and Bowdoin's Men's and Women's Ice Hockey teams played in Waterville (2019), Colby was closing down the Alfond Rink and preparing to move a few hundred yards away to the Jack Kelley Rink in the O'Neil | O'Donnell Forum. COVID-19 knocked out the conference schedule in 2020-21, and all eyes were on December 4th, 2021 and the oversized venue (1,796 seat capacity) in the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center.
With the Men's game knotted at one halfway through the second period, Jack Sullivan smoked a slapshot from the point past the Bowdoin defender to put the Mules ahead. When Bowdoin pulled their goalie in the final minutes, Sullivan was able to steal the puck and find a streaking Justin Grillo for an empty netter and 3-1 victory.
Colby is now 8-0-1 in the last nine contests against the Polar Bears, with their last defeat coming in December of 2015.
The Mules are 2-2-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the NESCAC, good for a tie for 6th place.
Opening their Home-and-Home series with Bowdoin Friday night (December 3rd) in Brunswick, the #9-ranked Women's Ice Hockey Team ran its streak to four wins to open the year with a 2-1 victory. Senior Sadie Kuhn opened the scoring and sophomore Meg Rittenhouse connected early in the second period for the game winner.
Taking the series to Waterville Saturday, the visitors opened the scoring early in the second period when Bowdoin found a rare hole past goaltender Nina Prunster. The Polar Bears would add an empty-net goal with seconds remaining to take the game 2-0.
Prunster has only surrendered 4 goals in as many games this season, stopping 111 shots.
Colby is now 4-1 and 3-1 in NESCAC, good for second in the conference.
Colby Hosts Maine State Swim Meet
Hosting the first of many large-scale swim meets in the new arena (also hosting the NESCAC Championship in February for men and women), the Mules opened the doors of the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center to Maine colleges for a two-day event, the Maine State Swim Meet.
Not only did the entire pool record board need an overhaul (this is only the second meet to be held in the Colby's new Aquatic Center), but many meet records fell as well. The Men's and Women's teams each finished second out of seven schools.
Women's Event Winners
- Ann Tolan - 50yd Butterfly
- Monet Meyer - 1-Meter Diving (Meet Record)
- Eleanor McGrath - 3-Meter Diving
Men's Event Winners
- Anthony Minickiello '24 - 200yd Bufferfly (Meet Record), 500yd Freestyle (Meet Record), 1650yd Freestyle
- John Connors '22 - 50yd Freestyle (Meet Record), 200yd Freestyle (Meet Record)
- Sam Cahaly '24 - 1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving (Meet Record)
- 200yd Freestyle Relay Team (Meet Record)
Women's Basketball Tops Huskies at the Buzzer, Streak Ends at 6 games
Colby trailed USM on Tuesday by as many as six points halfway through the fourth quarter. Caroline Smith '24 scored eight of her game-high 20 points down the stretch, and set the stage for Carter McGloon '24 to sink the game-winning shot (video below).
The Mules traveled to Brunswick on Saturday to take on the #4-ranked Polar Bears. Bowdoin used a stellar first half to build a lead and outpace Colby, despite the Mules keeping pace in the second 20 minutes. The defeat marked the first for Colby in the 2021-22 season, capping the 6-game win streak to open the year.
Colby is now 6-1 overall with two more games before the end of the semester.
Men's Basketball Comes-From-Behind At Bates
Despite dropping two out of three on the week (71-74 USM, 61-74 Bowdoin), the Mules battled Bates in Lewiston on Friday night and came back in a thriller.
Matt Hanna scored a game-high 28 points, netting 18 in the second half, including 5-7 from three-point range. Down by as many as seven with eight minutes to play, the point guard nailed two 3-pointers and three free throws to propel the Mules to a 78-72 victory.
First-year Jack Lawson continues his impressive start to his career, collecting 36 points and 16 rebounds on the week. He now has 109 points on the year, and has reached double-digits in eight of Colby's nine games.
Colby is now 5-3 with two more games before the semester break.
Squash Opens Season Against National Power Trinity
The Women's team fell 9-0 to #2 Trinity in the first match in the new Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center. Sophomore Andrea Lee jumped up 2-0 from the 1-spot, but couldn't hold off the top Bantam, eventually falling 3-2.
The Men's team also hosted its first match on the new courts. #4 Trinity showed why they are one of the top squads in the country, outlasting Colby 9-0. Dylan Tymkiw '23 played the top seed strong, falling to his counterpart 3-2.
Both teams will prepare to resume competition after the new year.
Nordic Skiing Warms Up with Preseason Open at Quarry Road
Racing earlier than ever at their home venue of Quarry Road, the Nordic Ski Team competed in the Quarry Road Opener against skiers from Bates, Bowdoin, and UNH. Seniors Erin Bianco and Foss Kerker each netted 2nd place finishes.
Collecting five top-10 finishes, the Mules look to US Nationals at Soldier Hollow (Utah) in early January before the College Carnival season begins right back at Quarry Road on January 14th.
- 1. Luci Anderson (UNH) - 15:24
- 2. Erin Bianco '22 - 15:25
- 8. Rose Clayton '24 - 16:00
- 1. Scott Schulz (UNH) - 13:26
- 2. Foss Kerker '22 - 13:39
- 4. Jack Young '25 - 13:54
- 6. Will Solow '22 - 14:02
Special thank you to the photographers who helped make this production possible: Tom Bartol, Cole Burkhart '24, Steve Cheney P25, Nancy Dauphinais '25, Paula Dauphinais '25, Jamie Fiedorek '25, Michael Garrett P23, Michael Maher, Anna Patten '23, Ellie Sawyer P25, Aicha Thiero '24