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2024-25 Roster |
2024-25 Schedule |
2024-25 Coaches |
2023-24 Statistics
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – It does not get any better than this.
The Williams College women's ice hockey team travels to longtime NESCAC-rival Amherst on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 season. The games will take place on Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m.
"I am excited to play our rivals right out of the gate," said junior goalie
Erin Pye, who broke the program's single-season record and led the NESCAC with 770 saves in 2023-24. "I hope that if we begin the season with fire and play two good games against Amherst, we will keep an upward trajectory through the year. The Amherst games are competitive and intense, so it is a good start for our first years in their NESCAC journeys."
Williams' home opener is against MCLA on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. on Lansing Chapman Rink. The 24-game, regular-season schedule features 16 NESCAC games and 12 contests in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
The Ephs play Keene State, Castleton, Norwich, SUNY Morrisville, Utica and Plattsburgh State in non-conference action. Williams competes against Trinity three times, with the game on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 3 p.m. in Hartford, Connecticut, being non conference. The top-eight teams qualify for the playoffs and the NESCAC Quarterfinals take place at the higher seed on Saturday, March 1. The highest remaining seed will host the semifinal and final rounds on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9.
"After three years, I realize how competitive it is to play in the NESCAC," said senior captain and defender
Quinn Dawson, who was tied for first on the team last season in assists (10) and points (15). "Every team is highly skilled, which means the difference between a winning and losing season comes down to the smallest details. It is crucial to consistently focus on getting those little things right."
Head coach
Meghan Gillis enters her 14th season with the most wins in program history (140). She guided the program to its first-ever NESCAC Championships in 2014 and 2019, with both being captured at Lansing Chapman Rink. Gillis led the team to its second and third NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in those respective years. The 2019 team won the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game and set a program record with 21 wins.
"The supportive and welcoming culture are two aspects of the team that make it a fun environment," said junior captain and forward
Leah Rubinshteyn, who led the 2023-24 team in goals (12) and game-winners (4). "Whether it be on-ice practices, conditioning or lifts, everyone is constantly pushing each other to be their best. This balance between holding a competitive standard during practices, while having fun on and off the ice, is something that makes the team special."
Gillis is supported by first-year assistant coach
Hanna Rose and third-year assistant
Annie Rush.
Beth Larcom returns for her fourth year as goalie coach. Dawson and Rubinshteyn are captains, while senior defender
Maddie Zack is an assistant captain.
Last season, the Ephs raced out to a 4-1-1 overall record and a 4-1-1 NESCAC mark. During a 3-2 overtime win at No. 15 Nazareth on Jan. 9,
Sophia Hoppe buried the game-winning tally. Rubinshteyn scored the game-winning goal in the third period during a 2-1 win against No. 9 Trinity on Feb. 3. The Ephs finished 8-14-2 overall and 5-10-1 in the NESCAC, as they are focused on consistency and peaking at the optimal time in 2024-25.
"We are looking to rebound from a 2023-24 campaign that did not live up to our program standards," said Gillis. "Despite being consistently in the top 15-20 nationally last year, our league is so competitive that we need to show up more consistently each day at practices and games. Starting with me as the head coach, we need to be more consistent and detailed in regards to the daily process and what type of commitment and execution we are bringing. Our defensive play at points was successful, but we have room for improvement on both sides of the puck."
Rubinshteyn led the NESCAC in short-handed goals (2), was tied for third in game-winners and ranked fifth in total goals. Dawson ranked in a tie for fourth in the NESCAC with three power-play goals. Pye, who led the NESCAC in saves per game (36.67), recorded a .946 save percentage, the fourth-best mark in a single season in program history. Rubinshteyn was named to the NESCAC All-Conference First Team, while Pye and Dawson earned spots on the Second Team. Dawson and Rubinshteyn were named New England Hockey Writers Association (NEHWA) All-Stars.
The Ephs lost
Jill Parsons (2 goals, 3 assists),
Claire DeVries (2 goals),
Robin Kitazono (3 goals, 4 assists),
Christina Halloran (3 goals, 3 assists) and
Bella DeLuca (1 goal, 1 assist) to graduation.
"We thank our 2024 seniors for the time to the program and hope they are doing well in their current endeavors," said Gillis.
The 2024-25 Ephs' roster consists of six seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores and seven first years. The senior class includes
Anna DiChristina (1 goal, 2 assists),
Katie Armstrong (2 goals, 5 assists), Hoppe (1 goal, 2 assists), Zack (1 assist), Dawson and goalie
Amanda Lackmann. Lackmann went 3-0 in net last year and earned a pair of shutouts.
The junior class is comprised of Pye, Rubinshteyn,
Lucie Bond (4 goals, tied for first on team with 10 assists),
Claire Murphy (5 goals, 3 assists),
Chloe Noxon (3 goals, 2 assists),
Maddie Samaan (+1 on the season) and
Jaelyn Keiver (4 goals, 8 assists).
The sophomore class consists of
Katherine Kang (5 assists),
Keira Harder (1 assist),
Celine Mayer (1 goal, 3 assists) and
Isa Healey (1 goal). The first years include
Annie Gallagher,
Merrill Delich,
Ellie French,
Charlotte Fetherston,
Skyler Moore,
Zoe Rosenberg and goalie
Eva Bentley.
"We cannot wait to see what this group brings into the fold and the energy they bring to our program," said Gillis. "I am excited about the group of leadership we have among the captains and seniors and to see where they take us this season."
