RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The No. 4-ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team earned an 8-1 win over the College of St. Scholastica Friday evening at Hunt Arena during the 2023-24 season opener.
Seven different scorers led the Falcons to victory, paced by a two-goal effort from the reigning WIAC and USCHO Player of the Year,
Maddie McCollins. In addition,
Megan Goodreau,
Ellie Brice, and
Madison Lavergne each tallied two assists.
The Falcons outshot the Saints 53-14 and won 46 of 61 faceoffs. UWRF scored twice in both the first and second periods before scoring four in the final 20 minutes.
Two of first three goals for the home team were career firsts and freshmen
Payton Hixson and
Madison Kadrlik both scored their firsts as a Falcon during their collegiate debuts.
Outside of McCollins' two goals,
Katherine Bell,
Alex Hantge,
MaKenna Aure, and
Aubrey Nelvin all found the back of the net. Bell's goal late in the first period stood as the game-winner.
Senior goaltender
Jordan O'Connor made the start in net and collected 13 saves for the win.
Both teams went scoreless on the power play. The Falcons went 0-for-4 while killing off a pair of CSS power plays.
UWRF (1-0, 0-0 WIAC) travels to Minneapolis, Minn., tomorrow afternoon for its first road game at Augsburg University.
