RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The UW-River Falls women's hockey team opened its 2026-27 season with a convincing 6-1 victory over Saint Mary's University on Friday night at Hunt Arena. The Falcons improved to 1-0-0 on the season, outshooting the Cardinals 41-14 and scoring in all three periods.
UWRF wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Blake Schultz scored her first as a Falcon just 33 seconds into the opening period off assists from Sami Pool and Brooklyn Riley. Gracyn Knowles added an unassisted goal at 8:29 before Katie Ball extended the lead to 3-0 with her first career goal at 13:55, with assists from Riley and Alexis Larsen.
The Falcons added to their advantage late in the second period when Pool scored an unassisted goal at 19:53 to make it 4-0.
Schultz scored her second goal of the night at 3:37 in the third period, assisted by Ashlyn Bailey and Sophia Hess. Saint Mary's got on the board at 12:46, but Addie Seleski capped the scoring with an unassisted goal at 15:52 to secure the 6-1 victory, the first of her career.
Pool, Schultz and Riley led the Falcons offensively with two points apiece. Schultz scored twice, Pool added a goal and an assist, and Riley contributed two assists.
Goaltender Olivia Hansen stopped 13 shots to earn the win.
The Falcons also held a 31-19 advantage in faceoffs, led by Hess with 14 wins and Knowles with 11.
UWRF faces the Cardinals again tomorrow night in Winona, Minn.
