Women's Hockey Blanks Thunder

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Concordia Wisconsin women's hockey team notched its ninth victory of the season on Saturday in a shutout performance against the Trine Thunder. The win moved the Falcons to 9-10-2 in the 2023-24 campaign.

Freshman Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove, Minn.) kicked off the scoring on the power play just over halfway through the opening period, finding the back of the net off of assists from junior Olivia Kurtz (Plainfield, Ill.) and freshman Brenna-Grace Dittmer (Chatham-Kent, Ont.). The Falcons would strike once more on the scoreboard in the period, as junior Brooke Gibson (LaSalle, Ont.) doubled the lead with 4:45 remaining in the first.

Neither squad lit the lamp in the second period, largely in part to a ten-save frame from Falcons' senior netminder Annalina Van Hercke (Castle Rock, Colo.).

After forcing a turnover, freshman Ella Tuccito (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) found an empty net from the neutral zone late in the third period, growing Concordia's lead to three. Just 23 seconds later, sophomore Charlotte Toor (Hartland, Mich.) picked up another empty net goal to mark her ninth score of the season. Juniors Savannah Hutchins (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Natalie Mackrell (Stuttgart, Germany) picked up assists on the goal, and were two of five Falcons to record a plus-minus of two for the game.

Van Hercke's shutout performance marked the 11th of her career, furthering her program record.

The Falcons will look to reach .500 in conference play in their next battle against the 6-13-1 Marian Sabres on February 1.