Women’s Hockey releases 2012-13 schedule

For the complete 2012-13 CUW women's hockey schedule, click here.

MEQUON, Wis. – Highlighted five games against top-10 teams in the nation and three contests against NCAA Tournament participants, including in-state and Northern Collegiate Hockey Association-rival UW-River Falls, the 2012-13 Concordia University Wisconsin schedule was released by women's hockey head coach Jim Ingman on Monday afternoon.

The Falcons begin and end the 2012 calendar year against its stiffest competition on the schedule, hosting No. 9-ranked Concordia College Moorhead (Oct. 26) and No. 7-ranked UW-River Falls (Dec. 7 and 8) at the Ozaukee Ice Center. Both teams competed in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.

A year after CUW had one of its youngest rosters ever – 16 freshman – it will look to rebound with 11 home games, compared to 14 on the road. The Falcons will host six NCHA opponents.

CUW begins the season with a non-conference matchup on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. against Concordia College Moorhead, who finished the 2011-12 season with a 15-6-5 record, but ranked ninth in the nation and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Falcons then host St. Mary's University the following afternoon, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m., at the OIC before hitting the road for their NCHA opening series at the College of St. Scholastica on Nov. 2 and 3.

CUW returns home for a trio of NCHA games, playing UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 9 (7:30 p.m.) and 10 (2 p.m.), before battling Lake Forest College on Nov. 13 (7 p.m.) in a single contest.

A difficult two-game NCHA series awaits the Falcons in mid-November as they travel to No. 10-ranked UW-Superior on Nov. 16 and 17. The Yellowjackets finished second in the NCHA standings. CUW then concludes a four-game road swing at Finlandia University on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, a team it swept last season. One of the victories was a 1-0 win at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

CUW's toughest home challenge of the season will be a two-game set against No. 7-ranked UW-River Falls on Dec. 7 (4 p.m.) and 8 (12 p.m.) at the OIC. UW-RF won the NCHA by seven points (four wins), finished seventh in the USCHO.com rankings and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The month of January won't be easy for the Falcons as five of their seven games will be on the road. CUW journeys to the College of St. Benedict (Jan. 10), St. Catherine's University (Jan. 12) and Hamline University (Jan. 13) for a three-game non-conference road swing that will feature near 900 miles round-trip.

The Falcons then compete against NCHA foes Marian University and St. Norbert College in home-and-home series to end January. They host the Sabres on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. before playing the Green Knights on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m.

Adrian College will be the final home opponent for CUW on the regular season schedule when it hosts the Bulldogs on Feb. 1 (7 p.m.) and 2 (2 p.m.). The Falcons close the 2012-13 campaign with a trip to UW-Eau Claire on Feb. 15 and 16.

For the complete 2012-13 CUW women's hockey schedule, click here.