Women's Ice Hockey Takes the Crown at Castleton for the Fourth Straight Year
As the three-time reigning champions of the Bagley Invitational, Colby opened the new year defending its title at Castleton with wins over SUNY Potsdam and the tournament host.
In Friday's opening round matchup against Potsdam, the Mules followed a scoreless first period with two tallies in the second. Another goal in the third put Colby out of reach as they advanced past the Bears 3-1. Goals came from Maria Pierce, Jo Tattersall, and Kate Pura, and Mandy Busky collected 17 saves in net.
In Saturday's title game against Castleton, the Mules skated through another scoreless opening frame before exploding for two goals in the second and three in the third. Kylie Makuh scored her first two goals of the season and Grace Caligiuri improved to 3-1 with her first shutout of the year. Lulu Gray collected a goal and three assists across the series, and Breanna Studley was named tournament MVP for anchoring a stellar defense while also netting a goal and two assists.
With their eight goals coming from seven different Mules, Colby has now seen 14 different goal-scorers on the season.
The Mules are currently 7-2 headed to Clinton, N.Y. this weekend to take on Hamilton.
Men’s Basketball Splits Games Against Maine Maritime and Bates to Begin 2025
Finishing off a stretch that saw Colby play eight straight road games, the Mules took care of MMA in Castine Friday afternoon with a commanding 81-54 score. The Mariners took control early on starting the game with an 11-3 lead, but Colby closed the deficit quickly and took a lead of their own for a 41-28 advantage at the end of the half. The second half played out the same as the Mules scored 40 more points to run away with the game. Max Poulton was on fire hitting nine shots behind the arc for 27 points to go along with four assists and six rebounds in the contest.
In their first home game since November 19th, Colby faced Bates Sunday in a non-conference affair. The two teams remained close throughout the first half with multiple lead changes but at the eight minute mark of the second half the Bobcats were able to extend a double digit lead (10) and remain in front for a 74-63 victory. Marcos Montiel (headline photo) led the Mules offense with 16 points while securing four assists, and a pair of steals and rebounds.
Men’s Basketball will take their 8-4 record back on the road for a five-game stretch beginning with their first NESCAC game of the season at Conn. College Friday night.
Men's Ice Hockey Makes it 10-in-a-Row Against Saint Anselm
Back to the ice for the first time in almost a month, Colby showed little rust taking out Saint Anselm College for the tenth straight time.
First period scores by Donovan O'Neil and Tyler Crist shot the Mules into an early lead, but the Hawks tallied two of their own in the second frame to even the score. One minute into the final period Crist struck for his second score of the day, this time coming short-handed. Two more Colby goals put the match out of reach. Connor Gallagher assisted on three of Colby's five goals, and Edward Baliotti collected a career-high 33 saves, including 18 in the middle frame.
Colby's 7-2-1 record is good for third in the NESCAC. The Mules host UNE Monday evening before welcoming Amherst and Hamilton this weekend.
Women’s Basketball Tops Lake Forest and Wellesley to Bookend the New Year
In a busy eight-day stretch, Colby topped Lake Forest in Florida before falling to 4th-ranked Scranton to close out December. Opening the new year this weekend in Massachusetts, the Mules once again split, taking out Wellesley and falling in a tight matchup at MIT.
Kate Olenik totaled 29 points in the win against Lake Forest, as Lydia Mordarski and Caroline Hartley (career-high) contributed 10 points apiece. The Mules held their own in the opening quarter against Scranton the following day, however the Royals took control in the second to outpace Colby for the remainder.
Back in New England, Colby came up just short to MIT 68-63 before defeating Wellesley in a tight 62-59 battle. In the final minute of play, Lydia Mordarski hit a clutch triple leading to the three point victory over the Blue. Amelia Hanscom finished with 13 points in the win as Olenik shined again with 28 points.
Olenik, the 2023-24 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, continues to be an offensive force after totaling 103 points in the four game stretch pushing her career points total to 565. She played all 40 minutes in three of the four games this week.
The 4-7 Mules will open NESCAC play this weekend hosting Conn. College and Tufts University.
Special thank you to the photographers who helped make this production possible: Bonnie Baker Photography, Steve Cheney P25, Stephen R. Clouthier, Traigh DeMasi '28, Jamie Fiedorek '25, Steve Fuller @flyingpoint, Peter Li '26, Michael Maher, Reese Robinson '27, Junan Shimizu '25, Ansley White '26, and the Colby Communications team.