MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Led in goal by Marc Smith '24 with a career-high 49 saves, the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team was defeated In NESCAC action, 2-0, by Hamilton College on Saturday afternoon from Spurrier-Snyder Arena.

Smith's 49 saves are the most by a single goaltender in program history in a single regulation game. Tim Sestak '20 holds the program record of 65 saves in a single game, but the March 2019 matchup against Amherst ended in triple overtime. A duo of Dawson Sprigings '17 and Daniel Weiss '17 made a combined 50 saves in regulation against Trinity in February of 2015.

The Cardinals played a crisp game for the first 10 minutes of the first period before Hamilton picked up the offensive game and pushed the Cardinals into a more defensive style of play. The Cardinals offense was paced by Jack Bosco '26 and Ethan Davidson '26 throughout the entire 60 minutes, recording four shots on goal apiece. DJ Dixon '24 and Owen Sweet '25 led all players off the faceoff as Dixon won 15 draws, Sweet with 13.

The Continentals struck first, Devon de Vries scoring from the goal crease as he was tripped up in front of Smith and deflected Justin Biraben's shot into the net. Before the end of the second period, Max Bulawka snagged a power play goal for the Continentals as the Cardinals were called for boarding. Bulawka scored off a rebounded shot by Luke Tchor from behind the post.

Late in the third period the Cardinals staved off an empty-net goal by the Continentals as Patrick Morrissey '25 was able to get back into the Cardinals defensive zone in time to make the blocked shot. Connor Sutherland ended the game with two back-to-back shots on Charlie Archer with the most opportune scoring attempt of the final period.

Archer made 27 saves in net for the Continentals, earning the 2-0 shutout.

The Cardinals return to action after the holiday break on Saturday, Dec. 30, when they head to Northfield, VT., for the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament. The Cardinals will go head-to-head with UNE beginning at 4 p.m.