Women's Hockey Has a Lot to Celebrate

MEQUON, Wis. – There was a lot to celebrate on Saturday evening in the Ozaukee Ice Center for the Concordia Wisconsin women's hockey team. The Falcons picked up an 11-0 victory over Finlandia to finish the regular season at 14-10-1 and 9-7-0 in the NCHA.

Sophomore Olivia Kurtz (Plainfield, Ill.) started the scoring when she tipped in a shot from sophomore Lilly Casher and a secondary assist to freshman Hailey Calliguri (Lonsdale, Minn.).

CUW struck again 10 minutes later when freshman Jillian Tabaka (Maplewood, Minn.) scored off perfect passes from freshman Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.) and freshman Kaitlyn Hanson (Shafer, Minn.).

Makayla Spejcher started the scoring in the second period with a top-shelf goal off a tip from senior Colleen Gilligan (Colborne, Ont.).

One minute later, Jillian Tabaka struck again off a steal from freshman Charlotte Toor (Hartland, Mich.).

Senior Emily Reimche (Billings, Mont.) scored from the point on the power play off a pass from Makayla Spejcher.  

Brooke Gibson closed the scoring in the period with a shot near the CUW bench off assists from sophomore Natalie Mackrell (Stuttgart, Germany) and Kaitlyn Hansen.

The Falcons scored five goals in the third period.

Charlotte Toor struck 25 seconds into the period when she skated down the right side of the defense past the defenders off a pass from Bela Noyle (Baltimore, Md.) and a secondary assist to Emily Reimche.

The birds took advantage of a five-minute major when Bela Noyle scored off a deflection of a Charlotte Toor shot and a secondary assist to sophomore Savannah Hutchins (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and then Brooke Gibson lit the lamp off assists from Emily Reimche and Jillian Tabaka.

Savannah Hutchins scored a goal of her own as she snuck the puck past the keepers' foot and Emily Reimche and Makayla Spejcher earned the assists.

The final goal of the night came from Brooke Gibson knocking in a rebound from a Natalie Mackrell shot and a Hanson secondary assist.

Senior Annalina Van Hercke (Castle Rock, Colo.) collected 14 saves in her fourth shutout of the season.

The Falcons destroyed the Lions in the faceoff circle with 60 victories. Brooke Gibson won 20 and Emily Reimche won 18.

The victory was the 100^th career victory for Steve Fabiilli and Concordia.

Brooke Gibson had nine of the 63 shots for CUW on Saturday.

The 11 goals tie the program record. The 14 wins are also the most in program history.

The Falcons open postseason play on Friday at Lake Forest in the NCHA Slaats Cup Quarterfinals.