Despite putting up hard fights, No. 14 women’s hockey (6-2-0, 4-2-0 ECAC) came up short in tough back-to-back battles with No. 5 Colgate (11-3, 4-0 ECAC) and No. 12 Cornell (4-3-1, 3-1-0 ECAC) this weekend.
In Friday’s match against Colgate, the Bears conceded an early goal but quickly stormed back — turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead early in the third period with goals from India McDadi ’26 and Margot Norehad ’27. But the Raiders responded, equalizing the score in the third before nailing the winning goal less than two minutes into overtime.
“Friday was a really good game,” Head Coach Melanie Ruzzi wrote in an email to The Herald. “We adapted to a higher pace of opponent than we have seen thus far.”
Goalkeeper Rory Edwards ’27 anchored Brown’s defense with her 35 saves. On offense, Monique Lyons ’28 put up her fifth goal of the season, tying for the most on the team.
“We played gritty Brown hockey and kept the pressure on Colgate throughout the game,” Lyons wrote to The Herald.
As the Bears struggled to gain offensive momentum in Saturday’s match against Cornell, their defense kept them in the game. The Bears’ defensive unit was spearheaded by rookie goalkeeper Anya Zupkofska ’28, who tallied 33 saves in her first career league game.
“There are always positives out of every game,” Ruzzi wrote, adding that Zupkofska was a “bright point” and “had to make some huge saves to give us a chance in the end.”
The Bears made several late shots, with Ava DeCoste ’27 scoring her fifth goal this season to put the team on the board. But Bruno ultimately came up short.
McDadi maintained a positive attitude despite the losses. “Facing Colgate and Cornell gave us valuable opportunities to grow as a team,” she wrote. “We learned a lot about our own resilience, gained insight into areas for improvement and grew stronger as a unit, which will only make us better prepared for what’s ahead.”
Brown has fought through a tough schedule to begin the season with a 6-2 record. Players and coaches alike underscored the quality of their conference, which boasts six teams ranked in the top 15 nationally.
“Any matchup in our league is tough; every team has its own set of strengths and weaknesses,” McDadi wrote. “Our league is so close in terms of competitiveness.”
The Bears’ roster consists of a blend of experienced players and talented rookies who have all made a significant impact in the team’s strong start.
Lyons, a first-year student, explained that the leadership of older players has been invaluable in helping her adjust to the college-level play. “I’m really lucky,” she wrote. “They have helped me tremendously by offering advice and answering my questions.”
Brown looks to bounce back next weekend, when they’re slated to face Yale twice.
“Next weekend is a huge one for us,” Ruzzi wrote. “We will spend time once again reinforcing the elements of the game that define Brown hockey.”
The team plans to “do the work necessary to have the right mindset the next time the women get to pull on the uniform,” Ruzzi added.
Gus Bailey is a senior staff writer covering the sports beat. He is a sophomore studying applied math-economics. His interests include data analytics, marketing, social media and of course, sports.
