The Paul Smith College women's hockey team celebrated winning the AAU College Hockey Women's Division National Championship in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo provided)
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — The Paul Smith College women's hockey team won the national championship Sunday at the inaugural AAU Collegiate Hockey Women's Division National Tournament.
The Bobcats defeated the University of Tampa Spartans 4-2 at Iceline Quad Rinks in West Chester, Pennsylvania to win the national championship.
Paul Smith's Lauren Tabor of Howards Grove, Wis., started the game with a low shot from the top of the circle, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead about two minutes into the game.
A few minutes later, Cazenovia's Riley Newcombe scored his third goal of the game, giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. Rhoda Peterson of Havre, Montana, and Tabor assisted on the first and second goals, respectively. Tampa ended the first period with one goal, making the score 2-1. Bobcats Jay Leah Coulombe scored the only goal in the middle, making the score 3-1.
Tampa scored its second goal of the game at 12:24 of the third period, bringing the game within one point. However, after taking a tripping penalty with 1:11 left in the game, the Tampa bench pulled up the goalie and tried to tie the game, giving the Spartans a 6-4 advantage. After a strong defensive presence and multiple saves by Finch, Coulon collected the puck in the slot and sent the puck flying the entire length of the ice to score the final goal of the game.
The Paul Smith College Women's Hockey Team poses during the AAU College Hockey Women's Division National Tournament in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo provided)
“The girls deserve everything.” Paul Smith College women's hockey coach Gibson Gilmore said. “The great teams found a way to win and proved that it takes will, not numbers, to succeed.”
The Bobcats entered the tournament with just 12 skaters and two goalies, a total of 14 players.
“Ending the season with a national title leaves us hungry for the future, not only for the possibility of success, but also for the opportunity to build women’s hockey in the North.” Gilmore said. “I believe there is something special at Paul Smith College.”
Coulombe was awarded the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. She finished the tournament with four goals, one assist, and five points in three games.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our women’s ice hockey team and Coach Gilmore.” Paul Smith College Athletic Director Zach Luzzi said. “They were able to make the most of a season that started with some low numbers and some adversity and turn it into a national championship run.”
Sunday's championship game was a rematch of the first contest of the tournament, in which the Bobcats scored eight goals against the Spartans and were the undefeated conference champions of the College Hockey South at the time.
Brooklyn's Leora Brown led Paul Smith's team with two goals and three assists. The Bobcats outscored the Spartans 40-29, giving Tampa its first loss all season.
Paul Smith goaltender Laura De Toni of Ottawa, Ont., was named Player of the Game. She stopped 26 of 29 shots en route to her first win in the first-ever AAU collegiate national tournament match played last Thursday.
Multiple Bobcats contributed to the score sheet. Coulon and Peterson each scored two goals. Newcomb and Samantha Barrett of Oak Park, Ill., each had one goal and two assists, while Ali Cherry of Grasonville, Md., Lillian Gaughan of Cornish, N.H., and Amanda Ramonda of Saratoga Springs each had one. Added an assist.
On Saturday, Bobcats goaltender Ashley Finch of Oswego won the Most Valuable Player Award. She made 30 saves in the 7-0 shutout win. Ramonda started the game for the Bobcats, scoring her first game-winning goal at 4:56 of the first period. Cherry had two goals and one assist, and Barrett had two goals.
Five players had assists for the Bobcats, with Newcombe and Taber rounding out the scoring. Samantha Friend of Reston, Va., and Lindsey Palmer of Clifton Park got their names on the score sheet in the assist department.
