RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The No. 4-ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey opened the 2022 NCAA Tournament Wednesday evening with a 7-0 shutout over Aurora University in the first round at Hunt Arena.
UWRF improves to 27-1 overall with its 20th consecutive win and 13th shutout of the season. The 27 wins breaks a UWRF program record, surpassing the previous record 26 win totals from 2016-17 and 2014-15.
The Falcons out-shot the Spartans 33-20 and went 4-for-8 on the power play, scoring three in the first period that made the difference on the night. UWRF's seven goals is the most scored during an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
Fifth-year senior forward
Callie Hoff tallied five points of two goals and three assists, breaking a program single-season record for points with her 66th of the season, surpassing Dani Sibley's previous record of 65 set during the 2016-17 season.
The Falcons jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first period, going 3-for-3 on the power play with goals from
Kora Torkelson,
Alex Hantge, and
Abigail Stow. Torkelson's team-leading 10th power play goal of the season stood as the eventual game-winner during the shutout, as goaltender
Sami Miller notched 20 saves for her eighth shutout on the year. Torkelson also logged three assists.
A pair of freshmen,
Emma Schmitz and
Allisen Carothers, put the home team up 5-0 with goals in the middle frame, and Hoff scored twice in the third to seal the win.
UWRF held Aurora scoreless during four Spartan power play chances.
The Falcons advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals and will host Gustavus Adolphus College this Saturday, March 12, at 3:05 p.m. inside Hunt Arena. Tickets are free to all UWRF students thanks to the UWRF Student Government Association.
