Women's Hockey 3/13/2024 8:26:00 PM

Falcons vs. Bulldogs, NCAA Semifinal Preview

UWRF women's hockey hosts Adrian College on Friday, March 15 in the NCAA Tournament Semifinals.

UW-RIVER FALLS (29-0, 12-0 WIAC) VS. ADRIAN COLLEGE (28-2, 16-0 NCHA)
Date: Friday, March 15, 2024
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: River Falls, Wis. // Hunt Arena

TICKETS

Tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Youth ages 2 and under are free.
All-session tickets will be $25 for adults and $15 for students/seniors.
There are NO INDIVIDUAL ADVANCED TICKETS available for sale.
Tickets will be sold at the door 1.5 hours prior to the start of the game.
Tickets are FREE for UWRF students thanks to the UWRF Student Government Association.

THE SERIES

Friday's game marks the 22nd all-time meeting between UW-River Falls and Adrian College, with the Falcons owning an 12-7-2 series lead.
- The two teams met earlier this season on Nov. 30 in River Falls, Wis., with the Falcons prevailing 7-5. UWRF led 6-2 heading into the third period before the Bulldogs fought back with three third period goals to cut the UWRF lead to 6-5, but a Falcon empty-net goal late in regulation sealed the win. Kaitlyn Ronn scored twice while Maddie McCollins had a career-high five assists, tying a UWRF single-game record.
- Friday's game will also mark the first time that the Falcons and Bulldogs are meeting in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

UWRF is coming off a 2-1 win over Gustavus Adolphus College in the NCAA Quarterfinals last Saturday, March 9, at Hunt Arena, advancing to the NCAA Semifinals for the sixth time in program history.
- The Falcons are making their 15th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, earning an at-large bid after winning both the 2023-24 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season and tournament titles. UWRF has reached the 'Frozen Four' six times (2003, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024), including a pair of third-place finishes and a national runner-up finish in 2016.
- Last year in the NCAA Tournament, the Falcons fell 2-1 in the quarterfinals against the eventual national champion Gusties.

FALCON NOTES

The Falcons have been ranked first in the USCHO National Poll for the 10 consecutive weeks, receiving unanimous first place votes in each poll.
UWRF improved to 29-0 overall last Saturday during its NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal win over defending national champion Gustavus Adolphus College, tying a Division III single-season record for wins.
UWRF closed out the regular season with a perfect 25-0 record. It marked the second time in which the Falcons went undefeated during the regular season, following the 2010-11 team who went 22-0-3.
The Falcons rank first nationally with 5.3 goals per game, a 4.3 scoring margin, and a 0.341 power play percentage.
Fifth-year senior forward Maddie McCollins is the nation's leading scorer with 62 points (32g-30a), was named the WIAC Player of the Year for the second season in a row, and was recently named a finalist for the AHCA Laura Hurd National Player of the Year. Head Coach Joe Cranston was also a finalist for AHCA National Coach of the Year. UWRF has two Laura Hurd award winners in program history: Callie Hoff in 2022 and Dani Sibley in 2017.
Five Falcons earned All-WIAC First Team honors: McCollins, MaKenna Aure, Megan Goodreau, Alex Hantge, and Jordan O'Connor. Holly Eckers, Aubrey Nelvin, Bailey Olson, and Kaitlyn Ronn were Honorable Mentions. Joe Cranston was named the WIAC Coach of the Year, his ninth career conference Coach of the Year honor.
Senior goaltender Jordan O'Connor is tied for the DIII lead with a 1.000 winning percentage with a 21-0 record and leads the WIAC with a 1.06 goals against average, a .944 save percentage, along with seven shutouts (2nd/DIII).

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Players Mentioned

#17 MaKenna Aure: D; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#4 Holly Eckers: D; 5' 9"; Senior

#10 Megan Goodreau: F; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#2 Alex Hantge: F; 5' 3"; Senior

#16 Maddie McCollins: F; 5' 8"; Fifth Year

#6 Aubrey Nelvin: F; 5' 5"; Senior

#30 Jordan O'Connor: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#9 Bailey Olson: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#11 Kaitlyn Ronn: D; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#17 MaKenna Aure
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: D

#4 Holly Eckers
: 5' 9"; Senior
: D

#10 Megan Goodreau
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Alex Hantge
: 5' 3"; Senior
: F

#16 Maddie McCollins
: 5' 8"; Fifth Year
: F

#6 Aubrey Nelvin
: 5' 5"; Senior
: F

#30 Jordan O'Connor
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#9 Bailey Olson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#11 Kaitlyn Ronn
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: D