The Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team opened its season on Friday with a 6-2 victory over the St. Lawrence Saints at Appleton Arena in Canton, New York. Facing an early two-goal deficit after the Saints struck back-to-back in the first period, the top-ranked Badgers mounted six unanswered goals to secure the win.
St. Lawrence Top-Ranked Badgers Early
Special Teams and Second-Period Surge
Junior Finley McCarthy sparked the comeback late in the first period, scoring off an assist from freshman Rosalie Tremblay. Captain Kelly Gorbatenko tied the game 2-2 in the second period with an assist from sophomore Charlotte Pieckenhagen. Pieckenhagen then assisted Cassie Hall to give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead. Tremblay added her first NCAA goal during a power play with 2:33 remaining in the second period, taking a pass from McCarthy to extend the lead to 4-2.
“It’s a great atmosphere and there’s a really loud crowd,” Gorbatenko said regarding the team adjusting to the environment. “I think we just had to settle in a little bit, get comfortable, make the first few mistakes and kind of get that out of the way. We looked pretty good the last two periods.”
Closing Out the Canton Opener
Wisconsin maintained its momentum into the final twenty minutes. Pieckenhagen scored the team’s fifth goal, with freshman Maddy Kimbrel picking up her first career assist. Gorbatenko added her second goal of the night with 14:40 remaining in regulation to seal the 6-2 advantage.
Sophomore goaltender Rhyah Stewart earned her first win of the season, stopping all 11 shots she faced after replacing the early trouble.
Record Book and Historic Streaks
Friday’s victory marks the fourth year that the Badgers have opened their season with a win. Over those four season openers, Wisconsin has outscored opponents 33-4.
Pieckenhagen finished the night with a career-high four points, recording one goal and three helpers. Tremblay’s second-period goal made her the first of eight freshmen on the roster to score a goal this season. The performance also marked the first time the Badgers scored six unanswered goals since a 6-1 win over Merrimack on January 5, 2024.
Series Finale on Tap
- Date: Saturday
- Location: Appleton Arena, Canton, N.Y.
- Final Score: Wisconsin 6, St. Lawrence 2
- Up Next: The teams meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Appleton Arena, with broadcasts available on ESPN+ and audio coverage on The Game 1070 AM.