CUW Closes Out 2024 With a Dominant Win

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin women's ice hockey team continued their dominant start to the season with a 5-1 victory over the Dubuque Spartans. The Falcons improved to 11-2-0 overall and 8-0-0 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play, setting a new program record for most wins in a semester and the most wins in a fall semester. With the victory, Concordia extended its program-best winning streak to eight games.

The Falcons took an early lead with 11:55 remaining in the first period when freshman Sophia Whiteaker (Normal, Ill.) scored her first collegiate goal, assisted by sophomore Ava Litkey (Kenosha, Wis.) and freshman Taylor Heleniak (Mercer, Wis.).

Later in the period, CUW doubled their lead through a quick transition from defense to offense. Junior Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.) cleared the puck from the defensive zone, finding senior Brooke Gibson (LaSalle, Ont.) near the red line. Gibson then passed it to senior Natalie Mackrell (Florissant, Colo.), who maneuvered around the Dubuque goalie and slid the puck into the net, giving the Falcons a 2-0 lead.

In the second period, CUW continued to press, with senior Amanda Bauer (Waunakee, Wis.) scoring on the power play. The play began with freshman Scout Stromberg (Tomahawk, Wis.) along the right side, who passed to Gibson. Gibson then set up Bauer with a diagonal pass, and Bauer finished to give CUW a 3-0 advantage.

Dubuque managed to score on a 4-on-3 power play late in the second, cutting the Falcons' lead to 3-1 heading into the intermission.

However, any hopes of a Dubuque comeback were quickly dashed in the third period. Concordia struck early, extending their lead to 4-1. Once again, the Falcons transitioned from defense to offense, with senior Savannah Hutchins (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) moving the puck up to junior Megan Vettraino (Howell, Mich.), who found freshman Kayla Gomes (Harrow, Ont.). Gomes made a well-placed shot past the goaltender for her first collegiate goal.

Bauer sealed the win with her second power-play goal of the game at the 7:11 mark, finishing a give-and-go with sophomore Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove, Minn.) to make it 5-1.

Freshman goaltender Gretchen Paaverud (Ramsey, Minn.) earned her second career win, making 15 saves in the contest. Bauer's two goals marked her first multi-goal game since February 17th of last season against Lake Forest. Gibson added two assists, bringing her season total to 12, and also won 15 of 16 faceoffs. McGown also excelled in the faceoff circle, winning 17 of 22 draws.

The Falcons will now take a well-deserved break before returning to action on January 7th, 2025, when they face Lake Forest at the Ozaukee Ice Center.