AMHERST — Orr Rink was a sea of purple and white, from the streamers wrapped around the handlebars of the bleachers, to paintings reading “We Love Our Seniors,” and “2020!” done on the glass boards of the rink.
The Amherst College women’s ice hockey team held its senior game on Saturday in honor of its five seniors, including captains Eliza Laycock and Anne Malloy.
Colby and Amherst entered with matching overall records and they stayed that way following a 2-2 tie.
“I was going into the game thinking I don’t want to focus on any of this senior stuff, I just want to think about the hockey. There’s only so many games left and I can enjoy everything, all of this other stuff, after those games. But for now, I just want to stay focused,” Malloy said. “We appreciate everything that our team has done for us, it’s been a great year. They have been a great team to lead too.”
Amherst (14-5-5, 8-4-4 NESCAC) took a 1-0 lead on a give-and-go executed by Rose Mroczka and Kaitlin Hoang. Mroczka exited the penalty box and chased down a puck. She passed to Hoang, who returned the favor.
Hoang made it 2-0 in the third period. However, Lexi Cafiero and Tess Dupre scored to tie the game for the Mules (14-5-5, 9-3-4).
The game was highlighted by a bittersweet ceremony that took place before the starting lineup was called. The families of each of the seniors — Sarah Melanson, Caroline Booraem, Ava Simoncelli, Malloy and Laycock — joined them on the ice.
“Our seniors did a fantastic job at establishing the foundation that you need to be a good hockey team,” Amherst coach Jeff Matthews said. “All five of them were a huge part of our success and establishing our connectedness, and our culture. It starts with your seniors, and I think they did a terrific job of that this year. I am very proud of them.”