January was a tough month for the Colby women's hockey team, adding several losses and ties to the team's overall record. But it all paid off when the team shocked Amherst College, the defending national champion, in a 3-2 victory on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Alfond Rink.

Amherst was on a 53-game winning streak in regular season conference play, but the Lord Jeffs' past didn't scare the Mules, who scored three goals during the first period. Just two minutes into the game, Marissa Simmons '12 scored off an assist from Kaitlyn Conway '10 and Stephanie Scarpato '11. Less than ten minutes later, Scarpato scored the second goal unassisted. Colby added a third goal by first-year defender Meghan Tedoldi.

This win was much-needed after some tough games throughout January. The night before the big win over Amherst, the women's hockey team fell to Amherst 6-2. Colby's goalkeeper, Loni Pisani '11, had 40 saves but couldn't hold Amherst from scoring two goals a period. Simmons scored both goals for the Mules, but overall Amherst outshot Colby 46 shots to 16.

Although Amherst was on Colby's toughest-rivals list, they weren't the only hard-hitting competition the hockey team faced during the month. The Lady Mules participated in the St. Michael's Holiday Classic Tournament, losing 5-3 against St. Michael's College on January 2, and tying 3-3 against Catham University on January 3. With less than five minutes left, Conway scored the tying goal in the game, allowing the Mules to play the Catham Cougars in overtime.

Colby then faced the undefeated Holy Cross team on January 5. Colby and the Crusaders battled for a while until the Crusaders were finally able to get past Colby's goalkeeper. Pisani made 31 saves, 12 of which were in a scoreless first period, but ultimately couldn't stop the Crusader onslaught. Scarpato scored the Mules' only goal of the game, bringing the final score to Holy Cross 5, Colby 1.

The women's team then faced Saint Anselm, losing 3-1 in non-conference play on January 9. A similar result occurred in the Mules' next game against Hamilton on January 15th, when the final score was Hamilton 3, Colby 1. In their game against Connecticut College, the Mules scored five goals, giving Colby the lead, but ultimately could not hold back Connecticut College, who came back to tie the game at 5-5.

A tough third period prevented Colby from advancing against New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rival, Bowdoin College on Tuesday, January 19. Although Colby held the lead at 1-0 in the first period, the Polar Bears rallied to win 4-1. On January 22, Colby outshot Wesleyan University 37 to 25 but still could not produce a win and lost to the Cardinals 2-1. Then on the 23rd, the Mules fell to Trinity 5-3, although Pisani made 47 saves for the Mules. Colby then traveled to the University of Southern Maine on the 26th, where they fell 5-2 against the Huskies.

After a tough but surprisingly uplifting end to a rough January, the Colby Women's Hockey team will face Wesleyan College at home on February 12th