MIDDLETOWN, CT. - Senior goaltender
Cam McCrystal earned her first-career win as a member of the Wesleyan women's ice hockey team, holding off Vermont State University Castleton in a 3-2 non-conference victory on Tuesday night from the Spurrier-Snyder Rink.
The Cardinals opened up the scoring in the second period, posting up three goals in 10 minutes with
Christina Tournas '25 kickstarting the action. Gaining possession in the neutral zone, Tournas rushed up the left side and took an initial shot on Spartans goaltender Victoria Bakopanos. The puck bounced back to Tournas after deflecting off a tripped-up
Amelia Molin '27 enough that Tournas could shove it behind Bakopanos' right skate.
Just six minutes later
Shannon Burke '25 was the next Cardinal to hit the back of the net, tallying her goal at 8:23. Burke started the play with a shot on goal that bounced wide after contact with Bakopanos but Burke was able to get back behind the goal for her own rebound. Skating the puck back out to the faceoff circle for a second shot attempt, Burke rings the puck off the left post and behind Bakopanos.
The final Cardinals goal of the evening went to
Caroline Mezias '25 as she finished off a pinball passing attempt at 8:54.
Mairead Kennedy '24 stepped to the goal with a heavy shot that Bakopanos was able to save but
Isabelle Allieri '25 kept possession out off the left post and quickly finds Mezias open out right of the goal.
Unwilling to be shutout, Moa Carlsson recorded two goals in the third period for the Spartans. The first on a short-handed attempt as Carlsson beat
Sam DeLeo '25 in a footrace back into the Cardinals zone, catching McCrystal far out above the crease for a rebounded puck. Carlsson's second was a power play goal.
The Cardinals outshot the Spartans 39-24 but were narrowly edged out off the draw 21-20. Burke led the Cardinals from the face-off circle with seven wins, Molin finished behind her with six.
McCrystal made 22 saves in goal for the Cardinals in her first outing of the season to earn her first victory. Bakopanos finished with 36 saves for the Spartans.
The Cardinals return to action when they play host to No. 15 Endicott College on Saturday, Dec. 2, with puck drop at 7 p.m.
