Colby women’s ice hockey opened its season the weekend before Thanksgiving with two tough losses to New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opponent Middlebury College. The Mules were able to get back on track a few days later with a win over the University of Southern Maine (USM) and brought their record to 1-2-1 with a 1-1 tie to the University of Massachusetts at Boston (UMass-Boston).

The season-opener versus Middlebury, the third-ranked team in Division III, turned momentum against the Mules. Brianne Wheeler ’14 stopped 56 Panther shots, but Middlebury was able to trickle a rebound past her glove in overtime to take a 3-2 victory. Meredith Reynolds ’13 (assisted by Kathy Shei ’13) and Annie Papadellis ’14 (assisted by Jackie Tavella ’15) each scored goals for the Mules.

The Friday night loss to Middlebury took the figurative wind out of Colby’s sails for the Saturday rematch. Middlebury’s Kate Sullivan notched a hat trick as the Panthers cruised to a 6-0 win to improve to 2-0. Despite the Saturday blowout, this fairly young Colby squad held its own on Friday against a team expected to compete for the national title.

On Nov. 22, Colby traveled to Gorham, Maine to take on USM. Ally Kane ’13, on assists from Papadellis and Lauren Guarente ’15, scored on the power play with 12:05 remaining in the first period, and the Mules never relinquished the lead. Shei added a tally in the final two minutes of the first period on an assist from Jessica Howerton ’15, and Samantha Slotnick ’14 closed out the scoring on an assist from Kane to close out the scoring, giving Colby the 3-0 win.

On Nov. 27, the UMass-Boston Beacons visited the Hill and played the Mules to a 1-1 tie. First-year Maddy Borek scored her first collegiate goal, putting Colby ahead midway through the first period on assists from Karlyn Donovan ’15 and Torie Palffy ’14. The Beacons, however, answered in the final two minutes of the first period, tying the game at 1-1. Wheeler finished the game with 31 saves, while UMass-Boston netminder Leah Hallett kept the Beacons in the game with 48 saves.

The Mules lost their top scorer from last season, Stephanie Scarpato ’11, who led the team in both goals (eight) and assists (12). Slotnick returns for her sophomore season after finishing second on the team in points last season with five goals and three assists for eight points. Kane and Marissa Simmons ’12 will serve as captains.

Colby plays a home-and-home series against NESCAC rival Bowdoin College this weekend. On Friday, the teams will square off in Brunswick, Maine at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the teams will travel north for a 3 p.m. matchup at Colby before playing a midweek game against New England College at home on Dec. 9.