(UW ATHLETICS) CANTON, NY – The No.1 Wisconsin women’s hockey team (1-0-0) found its way to a 6-2 triumph over the St. Lawrence Saints in their season opener at Appleton Arena on Friday.
The Saints took a two-goal lead in the first period of play with back-to-back goals. The Badgers scoring tab remained at zero until junior Finley McCarthy found the back of the net off a pass from freshman Rosalie Tremblay late in the first.
Captain Kelly Gorbatenko tied things up at two for the Badgers during the second period. Gorbatenko’s goal was assisted by Charlotte Pieckenhagen.
Pieckenhagen stayed hot, assisting Cassie Hall’s goal that gave UW a 3-2 lead.
Tremblay scored her first NCAA goal during the Badgers’ power play with just 2:33 remaining in the second. Tremblay received the puck from McCarthy to make it 4-2 to close out the second period.
Pieckenhagen went on to score Wisconsin’s fifth goal of the game, with freshman Maddy Kimbrel earning her first career assist.
Creating a 6-2 advantage for the Badgers was Captain Gorbatenko as she picked up her second goal of the game with 14:40 left in the final twenty minutes of play.
Sophomore netminder Rhyah Stewart picked up her first win of the season, stopping all 11 of the shots she faced.
Captain Kelly Gorbatenko
On the team getting more comfortable as the game went on:
“It’s a great atmosphere and there’s a really loud crowd. I think we just had to settle in a little bit, get comfortable, make the first few mistakes and kind of get that out of the way. We looked pretty good the last two periods.”
Notes of the Game:
- With her goal in the second period, rookie Tremblay became the first of the eight freshmen to tally their first score as a Badger.
- Wisconsin’s win marks the fourth year in a row that the Badgers have begun the season with a victory. They have outscored opponents 33-4 in those four season openers.
- Sophomore forward Pieckenhagen tallied a career-high four points in the win with a goal and three helpers.
- The last time the Badgers scored six unanswered goals was against Merrimack on Jan. 5, 2024, as UW took down the Warriors 6-1.
Up Next: UW faces the Saints again on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Appleton Arena.
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