Facing tough competition from both NESCAC and non-conference opponents over winter break, the Wesleyan women’s ice hockey team battled foes to close finishes but failed to come away with a win in the ten games played during the break.

To kick off the new year, the Cardinals traveled to UMass Boston for the Codfish Bowl, where the squad suffered losses of 2-0 and 4-1 to UMass Boston and Sacred Heart University, respectively. The Cards single offensive blow came on a goal by Jordan Schildhaus ’15, with assists from Rebecca Snelling ’12 and Becca Koppel ’13, while Wesleyan goalie Ashleigh Corvi ’13 recorded sixty-six saves in the tournament.

Playing host to undefeated Middlebury College, ranked fourth in the nation, the Cardinals were unable to withstand the Panthers offensive power and dropped the two-game series by scores of 8-1 and 8-0. Snelling scored the lone Wesleyan goal on the weekend, assisted by Jill Reynolds ’12 and Kelsey Muller ’13.

The Cardinals were shut out by Salve Regina on Jan. 10, but were then able to get on the board in each of the next five games. Muller managed to score for the Cardinals in a 4-1 loss to Bowdoin on a goal assisted by Reynolds and M.J. Cardin ’12. The Cardinals fought back the next day to a close 3-2 loss to the Polar Bears, with goals coming from Reynolds and Glenn Hartman-Mattson ’14.

Koppel netted a single goal for Cardinals in a 5-1 loss to New England College. The team ronded out its winter break schedule with games at Connecticut College—Schildhaus and Hannah Jellinek ’15 provided goals in the tough match-ups.

The Wesleyan goaltending corps, led by Corvi, averaged more than 30 saves a game during the winter break campaign. The Cardinals will have to find their offensive spark in order to get back in the win column, as they take on NESCAC opponents in their next six games. The squad will be looking to start fresh this Friday, Feb. 3, as it once again faces off against Hamilton College at its own Spurrier Snyder Arena.