MIDDLETOWN, CT. – With just three minutes to go in regulation,
Caroline Kee '26 snapped the game-winning goal for the Wesleyan women's ice hockey team to close out the team's third victory in five days, downing Manhattanville University, 2-1, in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon from Wesleyan's Spurrier-Snyder Arena.
Despite the dominant possession game played by the Cardinals during the afternoon contest, it was the Valiants that managed to open the scoring first, putting up their only goal on just their second shot of the first period. Perched up behind Cardinals' goaltender
Sami Smith '27, Lillee Dougherty batted the puck over the line as it crossed Smith's right pad. The Valiants' lead would last only until the second period.
Striking for the first time this season,
Christina Tournas '25 tied the game up with just two minutes having gone by in the middle period. Kee won the draw at the right circle and sent the puck back to defender
Beats Tura '27 at the blue line, Tura in turn gave way to Tournas out in front of the goal. Picking the puck off a Valiant, Tournas snapped the puck over the shoulder of Olivia Cimorelli.
Rolling into the final period of play, the Cardinals continued with their shot onslaught without giving the Valiants much room to recover. Smith, who finished the afternoon with 22 saves in goal to earn her third win of the season, staved off several game-winning attempts from Lulu LePage at the 13-minute marker. The Cardinals tried to clear the puck, but LePage was left unattended and served up a heavy shot on Smith at the top of the crease and snagged her own rebound. LePage's rebound hit the left post as she was shoved out by
Emma Lucchese '28 to save Smith making the dive attempt. LePage slipped another off the skate of Smith who was still sprawled on the ice, and managed another rebound for Smith to make the stick save. Climbing back to her feet, Smith slid across the crease to make one final save on LePage.
Still tied up with three minutes to go in regulation and possible overtime on the horizon, Kee rang the bell and tallied the game winner on a backhanded shot from the left post. Sitting at the blue line,
Sam DeLeo '25 made the final touch to Kee down in the corner before Kee drove the puck through several Valiant defenders across the front of the goal to the opposite post.
From the draw, both Kee and
Amelia Molin '27 won 10 faceoffs for the Cardinals, leading the way on the offensive drive.
In the opposite net, Cimorelli finished the game with 40 saves for the Valiants.
The Cardinals return to action on Friday, Jan. 10, when they host Williams in NESCAC action at 7 p.m.
