Elizabeth Muirhead ‘20
Contributing Writer
The Smith College Ice Hockey (SCIH) team began practicing the day after fall break, preparing a team with eight new players for a long, cold and competitive season.
Only two players had graduated from the team last year, Kira Chase ’17 and Caroline Muirhead ’17. Losing them left two big holes in the forward lines, but the team grew and everyone was generally optimistic about their upcoming season.
Last season, SCIH placed third in their division, putting them just shy of a spot in the playoffs. Perhaps with all of the new talent, SCIH can have an even more competitive season and possibly a spot in the playoffs.
On Nov. 4, after three weeks of preparation and a two and a half hour drive up to Andover, New Hampshire, the team faced their first opponent, Colby-Sawyer College.
Last year during the 2016-2017 season, Smith had beaten Colby-Sawyer 4-1 in November, the first time they played each other. But Smith lost in their second game against Colby-Sawyer 7-4 in late January. All in all, the two teams were pretty evenly matched.
Early in the first of three periods, Colby-Sawyer scored the first goal of the game, putting Smith in a defensive position. Then, Kate Ginder ’21 scored midway through the first, making it a 1-1 game. Not only was it the goal that tied the game, it was also the first goal of the season.
The following goal was scored by the author on a power-play close to the end of the period. At the end of the first, Smith was in a good position, leading a narrow game by one goal.
In the second period, SCIH took control of the game. Captain Sid Joyce-Farley ’20 scored an impressive, shorthanded goal. Eleanor Donaher ’20 scored two more goals that period to bring the score up to 5-1.
In the third and final period, Sophie Guthrie ’21 scored a goal. Colby-Sawyer managed to get another goal, bringing the score to 6-2. But the game was too far gone for Colby-Sawyer.
After another goal came from Eleanor Donaher ’20 late in the third period, the game was sealed. Smith won in an impressive 7-2 victory against a team that was historically a tough fight.
Five of their seven goals were scored by new players, including a hat trick, which is when a player scores three goals, from Donaher.
Just like with any other team sport, there are a lot of elements in the formula that make a team successful. It may be the powerful goaltending by Captain Meghan Johnson ’19. Or it may also be the beautiful assists, positioning skills or break outs made by the wings. But this year, it may be all of the new players on the team that will put them over the top and lead them to a stronger season.
