Krumwiede, Slater lift Women's Hockey past Adrian, into NCHA Final

ADRIAN, Mich. – Sophomore Nicole Krumwiede entered Friday's Northern Collegiate Hockey Association semifinal matchup against top-seeded Adrian College without a point this season. A player known more for her energy and defense from the forward position, she hadn't recorded a point since her first career collegiate game when she scored two goals against Finlandia University.

That all changed Friday as Krumwiede (Itasca, Ill.) netted the game-winning goal with 6:44 remaining in regulation, lifting the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Adrian.

The win advances the Falcons to the Slaats Cup Finals tomorrow where they will face either second-seeded Lake Forest or third-seeded St. Norbert College. That game is set for a 2 p.m. EST start at the Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich. The winner of tomorrow's final will advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament as the NCHA automatic qualifier. Adrian, who is ranked fourth nationally, will have to await word if they will receive an at-large bid to the field.

Sophomore Bridget Slater (Roseau, Minn.) made a career-best 41 saves in the win. Slater allowed one goal 4:26 into play but was perfect from that point on in her career game. She made 19 saves in the first and added 13 over the final 20 minutes to lift the Falcons to the title game. Adrian came into the game averaging 3.92 goals per game, which ranked fourth nationally.

Senior Sammi Reiter (Stillwater, Minn.) had the other Falcons goal on Friday, scoring on the power play 14:30 into the second period, which tied the score at 1-1. Senior Emily Heckendorf (Merrill, Wis.) assisted on the Reiter score, which made the score tied heading into the third period.

The two teams battled throughout the early portion of the third stanza and CUW even had a 4-on-3 advantage at one point, but it wasn't until Krumwiede shocked the Bulldogs with the game-winning score with 6:44 to play. Sophomores Brittany Sticha (Lonsdale, Minn.) and Brandi Muller (Anchorage, Alaska) assisted on the game-winning score.

Adrian's lone goal came on its first power play chance, as Kaylyn Schroka scored 4:26 into play. Michelle Jones and Courtney Millar assisted on the Bulldogs only goal of the contest. The Falcons penalty kill settled in from that point on, holding an Adrian power play unit that ranks second nationally to no goals in its final three chances. CUW was also 1-for-4 on the power play.

The shots ended up being in favor of Adrian by a 42-17 margin, but it didn't matter for the Falcons as Slater was zoned in. Jade Walsh made 15 stops for the Bulldogs. Slater made several saves over the final minute-plus even after Walsh was pulled for an extra attacker, allowing her team to hold on for the victory.

The trip to the finals will mark the first time in school history that the Falcons have skated in the NCHA Championship game. Today's win over Adrian was just the third playoff win in program history, one coming last week against St. Scholastica and the other coming in 2011 against UW-Eau Claire.