Falcons Take Game One of Weekend Playoff Series

MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's hockey team improved to 19-6-1 overall with a 3-2 victory over Marian University in game one of the Slaats Cup Quarterfinals.

The Falcons struck early in the first period when freshman Taylor Heleniak (Mercer, Wis.) stole the puck behind Marian's net and passed it to sophomore Ava Litkey (Kenosha, Wis.). Litkey navigated to the right post, where her shot ricocheted to freshman Sophia Whiteaker (Normal, Ill.), who quickly fired it past the Sabres' goaltender to give Concordia a 1-0 lead with 13:42 remaining in the first period.

CUW's defense remained stout, maintaining their 1-0 advantage as the game moved to the second period.

Marian responded in the middle frame, leveling the score with a rebound goal off a saved shot.

However, the Falcons regained the lead with just 54 seconds left in the period. Freshman Scout Stromberg (Tomahawk, Wis.) picked up a loose puck near the CUW bench and quickly fed it to senior Olivia Kurtz (Plainfield, Ill.). Kurtz carried the puck behind the net and found an open Heleniak at the left post. Heleniak slid the puck past the Sabres' goaltender, giving the Falcons a 2-1 advantage heading into the final period.

Just 90 seconds into the third, CUW added an insurance goal. Senior Natalie Mackrell (Florissant, Colo.) finished off a two-on-one breakaway started by junior Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.), who recovered the puck off a faceoff. Spejcher slid it to Mackrell near the crease, where she tapped it past the goaltender for a 3-1 lead. Senior Brooke Gibson (LaSalle, Ont.) earned an assist after winning the faceoff.

The Sabres quickly responded with a goal of their own, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 with less than five minutes remaining. However, the Falcons faced a major challenge when they committed two penalties in quick succession, forcing them to kill off a five-on-three advantage for Marian that lasted 1:41.

The Concordia penalty kill stood firm, consistently clearing the puck and holding off Marian's power-play opportunities to maintain their 3-2 lead with 5:35 remaining. Once back at full strength, the Falcons defense continued to shut down the Sabres, securing the win.

Senior goaltender Kami McCardle (Jackson, Wis.) made 11 saves in the victory.

Mackrell also recorded her first game-winning goal of the 2025 year, as her previous one of the season came on December 7th of 2024. Heleniak recorded her first multi-point game with one goal and one assist. In the faceoff circle, Brooke Gibson won a team-high 15 draws, with sophomore Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) winning 14, and Whiteaker winning 10.

The Falcons will look to close out the series tomorrow when they face Marian again in game two of the Slaats Cup Quarterfinals.