Darling's game-winner lifts Women's Hockey to best start in program history

MINNEAPOLIS – Baylee Darling lit the lamp with 3:13 remaining in regulation, lifting the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 non-conference win over Augsburg Saturday afternoon. The win also helped CUW secure its best four-game start in program history, besting the 3-1-0 marks of the 2009-10 and 2013-14 Falcons.

Darling (Holmen, Wis.) netted her game-winner late in the third off assists from sophomore Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) and junior Alexis Machuga (Rochester Hills, Minn.). Metanova has now recorded a point in all four games this season and six consecutive contests dating back to last winter.

The Falcons other two goals Saturday were scored by freshman Lexi Holman (Cold Spring, Minn.) and sophomore Brittany Sticha (Lonsdale, Minn.), both players returning to their home state.

Holman's goal was unassisted and came 11:50 into the second period, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Sticha goal tied the score in the first stanza with just 28 seconds remaining. Junior Katherine Pauletti (Roseville, Minn.) and sophomore Brandi Muller (Anchorage, Alaska) assisted on the first period tying score.

Sophomore Bridget Slater (Roseau, Minn.) picked up her second win in as many tries this season. Slater stopped 31 shots, 23 of those coming over the final two periods. Erika Allen made 23 saves for the Auggies as CUW was outshot 33-26.

Augsburg built a 1-0 lead just 2:38 into play Saturday on goal by Ashley Kloncz. Sticha would give CUW the equalizer late in the first, before Holman put the Falcons up 2-1. The 2-1 lead held until the 13:24 point of the third and final period when Claire Cripps of the Auggies tied the game at 2-2 with a power play goal. Kloncz added an assist on the game-tying score.

The Falcons had one final answer as Darling posted her first career game-winning score. She was one of two Falcons to finish with four shots, Sticha being the other.

CUW (3-0-1) will return to the ice next weekend in a home-and-home series against Lake Forest College. The Falcons will visit the Foresters Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. before welcoming LFC to the Ozaukee Ice Center Saturday at 7:30 p.m.