Women's Ice Hockey

UW-River Falls Wins NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Title

RIVER FALLS, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls won its first-ever NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey championship with a 4-1 victory over Elmira College (N.Y.) at Hunt Arena on March 17.
 
It is also the first women’s ice hockey national title won by a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) program. Since the 1982-83 academic year, WIAC schools have combined to win a total of 126 NCAA Division III team championships.
 
UW-River Falls (31-0) established a NCAA Division III record this season with 31 victories. The Falcons' undefeated season is the second in Division III women’s ice hockey history. The first was Middlebury College (Vt.) (27-0) in 2022. 

Against Elmira (23-8-1), the game was tied 1-1 heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation. UW-River Falls took the lead with a Kenzie Dunn goal just under seven minutes into the third period, and the Falcons rode that wave, scoring another two, while shutting out the Soaring Eagles in the final frame to seal the win.

After a scoreless first period, the Falcons drew a five-minute major penalty just over five minutes into the second period, in which they capitalized on with a MaKenna Aure wrist shot goal to give UW-River Falls a 1-0 lead. But under two minutes later, Elmira scored to knot the score at 1-1, where it stood heading into the third period.

Riding the momentum of a clutch 5-of-3 penalty kill, Kenzie Dunn went coast-to-coast and scored five-hole to give the Falcons their first lead of the game just under the seven-minute mark. Soon after, Madison Lavergne extended the lead, deflecting a Kaitlyn Ronn shot from the point to put the home team up 3-1 with over 12 minutes left in regulation. UW-River Falls claimed a three-goal cushion at the 12-minute mark with an Alex Hantge goal, and the Falcon defense stood strong down the stretch.

Jordan O’Connor made 16 saves to earn the win, finishing the year with a 23-0 record which ties a UW-River Falls single season record for most wins as a goaltender.

Maddie McCollins, Madison Lavergne and MaKenna Aure were selected to the All-Tournament Team, while McCollins was awarded the Most Outstanding Player.
 
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