The top-seeded UWRF women's hockey team opens the WIAC O'Brien Cup Tournament at home this weekend, hosting No. 5 seed Northland College.
UW-RIVER FALLS (21-3-1, 10-1-1 WIAC) VS. NORTHLAND (3-22-1, 0-12 WIAC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 24, 2023
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Site: River Falls, Wis. // Hunt Arena
Live Coverage: Stats //
Video
UW-RIVER FALLS (21-3-1, 10-1-1 WIAC) VS. NORTHLAND (3-22-1, 0-12 WIAC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2022
Time: 2:05 p.m.
Site: River Falls, Wis. // Hunt Arena
Live Coverage: Stats //
Video
FREE UWRF STUDENT TICKETS
- Thanks to the UW-River Falls Student Government Association, ALL UW-River Falls student tickets are FREE for all postseason games in River Falls. Tickets are available at the door an hour before game time.
WIAC O'BRIEN CUP HISTORY
- The Falcons own an overall record of 24-3-2 during the WIAC Tournament and have won seven O'Brien Cup titles since its inception in 2014.
- Last season, UWRF won its third-straight O'Brien Cup, sweeping UW-Superior in the semifinals and defeating UW-Eau Claire 6-3 in the championship game.
THE SERIES
- This weekend's games mark the 18th and 19th all-time meeting between UW-River Falls and Northland College, with the Falcons owning an undefeated 17-0 record. It's the first time the two teams are meeting in the WIAC Tournament.
UWRF swept the season series against the Lumberjills, earning 8-0, 9-0, and 8-0 wins.
FALCON NOTES
- UWRF split its regular season finale series against UW-Eau Claire last weekend.
- After having its 13-game winning streak snapped with a 7-4 loss last Friday, the Falcons bounced back with a 1-1 draw on Saturday, and won the shootout to clinch the WIAC regular season title and the top seed for the conference tournament. It was UWRF's ninth WIAC regular season championship.
- UWRF dipped to No. 3 in the latest USCHO Division III poll. The Falcons were previously ranked No. 1 for four-straight weeks.
- UWRF is the national leader with 138 total goals scored, averaging 5.5 goals per game.
- The Falcons also lead DIII with 374 total team points, 236 assists, and own the top power-play percentage at 33.8 percent, scoring on 26 of 77 opportunities.
- Alex Hantge ranks fifth nationally with 24 assists, including seven in her last four games.
- Maddie McCollins is UWRF's leading scorer with 44 points off 24 goals and 20 assists. She ranks fourth in DIII with 1.8 points per game.
- Goaltender Sami Miller owns a 13-1-1 record with a pair of shutouts, ranking second nationally with a 0.900 winning percentage.
- Miller earned her 16th career shutout during a 4-0 win over UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 11 at Hunt Arena to become the UWRF all-time shutouts leader, passing former All-American Angie Hall, who totaled 15 shutouts from 2014-18.
