MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's hockey team completed its 2024–25 season with a program-best 20-7-1 overall record and a 13-4-1 mark in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play, finishing third in the standings after being picked fifth in the preseason poll. The year was fueled by dominant stretches, milestone victories, and a senior-led roster that consistently delivered in key moments throughout the most successful season in program history.
The Falcons opened the year with a defining moment — a 4-3 road upset over No. 15 Saint Mary's — marking their first ranked victory since 2022. That result sparked a surge, as CUW followed it with a record-setting 10-game win streak, including series sweeps over Trine, MSOE, Lake Forest, and Dubuque. Along the way, the Falcons posted back-to-back shutouts and recorded a six-goal win over Lake Forest to reclaim the Border Battle Cup for the first time via sweep.
In November, the Falcons exploded for a combined 13 goals in a weekend sweep of King's College, including a 10-0 Black Friday blowout — their highest scoring output since 2023. Junior Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.) tied her career-high with five points in that game, earning NCHA Star of the Week honors. On the backend, senior Kami McCardle (Jackson, Wis.) and sophomore Carolyn Bourgeault (Buffalo, N.Y.) strung together three straight shutouts to highlight CUW's growing defensive strength.
The momentum carried through December with wins over Dubuque, including a 3-0 shutout that marked the fastest CUW team to reach 10 victories. After the break, the Falcons returned to cap off a historic senior night with a 3-1 win over UW-Stevens Point, snapping a 15-game winless streak against the Pointers and extending the win streak to 10 games.
January brought a test, as the Falcons suffered back-to-back losses to undefeated St. Norbert, followed by a split and a shootout loss to Aurora. But CUW bounced back with a weekend sweep over Lawrence, including a dominant 7-0 win at home that clinched a spot in the Slaats Cup Playoffs and tied the program's single-season wins record. A day later, they broke that record outright with a 5-0 road win, highlighted by three seniors (Amanda Bauer, Natalie Mackrell, and Olivia Kurtz) reaching 100 career games.
CUW etched another signature moment into its résumé with a 1-0 road shutout over No. 5 Adrian — the program's first shutout of a ranked opponent and only its second season ever with multiple ranked wins. McCardle posted 42 saves in the upset and reached the 1000-save career milestone the following week.
The Falcons closed out the regular season with a sweep of Marian, securing home-ice advantage for the Slaats Cup Quarterfinals and setting a new standard with a 10-3-0 home record. Senior Amanda Bauer (Waunakee, Wis.) and sophomore Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) each recorded five-point performances in a 7-0 Senior Day rout.
In the postseason, CUW swept Marian in the Slaats Cup Quarterfinals, winning 3-2 and 7-0 to reach the semifinals for the first time under the current tournament format. The run came to a close in a loss at No. 7 Adrian, but not before the Falcons had cemented themselves as one of the top programs in the NCHA.
CUW's success was reflected in a program-record six All-Conference selections, including four First Team honorees: senior Brooke Gibson, sophomore Mackaylan McGown, sophomore Brenna-Grace Dittmer, and senior goalie Kami McCardle. Freshmen Taylor Heleniak (Mercer, Wis.) and Scout Stromberg (Tomahawk, Wis.) earned spots on the All-Freshman Team, tying for the most in the league.
Brooke Gibson capped her storied career as the Falcons' all-time leader in points (100), goals (50), power-play goals (21), and game-winning goals (13). She also set single-season records for points (33) and assists (20) and was named NCHA Star of the Week on January 14. Amanda Bauer earned the honor on February 18 after a five-point outing, while McCardle and Spejcher each claimed multiple weekly honors.
The 2024–25 senior class — Bauer, Gibson, McCardle, Kurtz, Mackrell, Casher, Hutchins, Graham, Vettraino, Marshall, and Peters — departs as the winningest class in program history with 59 career victories.
With record-breaking achievements, a trip to the semifinals, and a strong returning core, the Falcons have elevated their standard — and the future of CUW women's hockey has never looked brighter.
