Women’s Ice Hockey’s Maddie Carter ’27 selected NESCAC Player of the Week

Ismael Irizarry ’26

Contributing Writer

It has been an eventful season for Trinity’s Women’s Hockey Team. From difficult losses to tremendous wins, they have proven their resilience time and time again. Most recently, the Bantams faced off against the fifth ranked Amherst College Mammoths in an important double header. The two teams split the series, leaving Trinity with important work ahead against Wesleyan University as they battled for a position in the NESCAC Tournament. They faced Amherst on Feb. 13 and 14th, both games ending regulation in a 1-1 tie, but ultimately losing both games in shootouts. Despite the uphill climb, Trinity’s performance against Amherst would not have been possible without standout junior goaltender Maddie Carter ’27, who was named NESCAC Player of the Week. 

Over the course of the Amherst series, Carter recorded 77 saves out of 79, which secured an outstanding .975 save percentage, according to Trinity Athletics. Combined with her 25 saves against Wesleyan the following weekend, Carter capped off a remarkable regular season in which she totaled 340 saves while allowing just 33 goals.

In an interview with the Tripod, Carter acknowledged she and her teammates knew the Amherst matchup would be a challenge. “Amherst has always been a formidable opponent,” she said. “We fell back on our training.” Her comments reflect both her individual preparation and the team’s commitment to discipline and structure. Carter  understands the weight of her position in tight contests. “Every save can be the most important save in a close game,” she said. She added that when she makes “really nice glove saves,” it can “put wind in the sails of the team.”

That momentum boost speaks to a larger role a goalie plays beyond just stopping pucks.Carter emphasized how much she feels the support of her teammates and coaches. For her, team camaraderie is central to the program’s identity. She recognizes that strong goaltending can be “a big deal in terms of our confidence,” but she is equally quick to credit the group in front of her.

This Trinity squad prides itself on being there for one another, whether that means scoring goals and blocking shots on the ice or enjoying team outings off it, including bonding over all-you-can eat sushi and fried Oreos. As the regular season closes, Carter and the Bantams now turn their focus to the postseason. Trinity is set to face top-seeded Middlebury College in the NESCAC Tournament on Feb. 28th at 4:30 p.m. in Vermont. For Carter, the mindset remains simple: “Being a goalie is a leadership position.” As Trinity enters tournament play, she will look to continue leading the team, one save at a time.