Women's Hockey skates to 2-2 tie in regular season finale against Adrian

MEQUON, Wis. – Adrian College scored two goals 24 seconds apart midway through the third period, forcing a 2-2 tie against the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey team. The matchup at the Ozaukee Ice Center was the regular season finale for both schools.

CUW and Adrian won't have to wait long to see each other again as the two are slated to meet up in the Quarterfinals of the Slaats Cup Playoffs, scheduled to begin next Friday at 7 p.m. The Falcons, seeded fifth in the NCHA, will travel to face the Bulldogs, who earned the fourth seed. The winner advances to take on either St. Scholastica or Lake Forest in the semifinal round the following weekend.

The Falcons built a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play Saturday, scoring once in each of the first two periods. Freshman Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) and senior Maxine Blohowiak (Green Bay, Wis.) scored the CUW goals. The two scores, combined with 23 saves over the first two periods by freshman Bridget Slater (Roseau, Minn.) had the Falcons up two heading into the final stanza. Slater finished the game with 35 saves, continuing her strong play between the pipes.

In the third period it was Adrian (18-6-1, 11-6-1 NCHA) who would strike, beginning with an Audrey Noles goal at the 12:22 mark. Danielle Smith followed that with a goal 24 seconds later, tying the score at 2-2. Both goalies would stand strong down the stretch, including in overtime, resulting in the tie.

The Falcons ability on the penalty kill was impressive as they stopped all four AC power play chances Saturday, including one that occurred at the same time of the Smith goal. CUW also got a shorthanded goal from Blohowiak, her second of the season, which is tied for most all time in CUW history. Blohowiak was playing in her final regular season game and likely final game at the Ozaukee Ice Center.

The Metanova goal scored 9:47 into the opening period was assisted by junior Emily Heckendorf (Merrill, Wis.). Heckendorf brought the puck into the CUW offensive zone and fired one on goaltender Jade Walsh. She then got a rebound, sent another shot on, which was again stopped by Walsh, but Metanova was there for the rebound score, putting CUW up 1-0.

Walsh finished the game with 26 saves for the Bulldogs, who outshot the Falcons by a 37-28 count. Neither team could convert on a combined six power play chances in the game.

The CUW (8-15-2, 6-10-2 NCHA) trip to Adrian will mark the second time it has visited the Bulldogs this season. The Falcons were swept back on January 17-18 but have been playing some of their best hockey as of late, just in time for the start of the postseason.