MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin women's hockey team picked up a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory on Saturday night to close the regular season at 22-2-1.
The Falcons finished Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play on Saturday and recorded their best finish in program history in second place at 16-1-1.
Junior Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) started the scoring on Saturday in the first period when she cleaned up a loose puck that had been played by junior Naomi Black (Ottawa, Ontario) and freshman Abby Hansberger (Elk River, Minn.).
The Sabres tied the game two minutes later.
The whistles were unkind to the Falcons on Saturday and Concordia Wisconsin fought off three penalties in the second period.
The Black and Blue had some quality breakaway opportunities on Saturday, but sophomore Gretchen Paaverud (Ramsey, Minn.) kept the Marian offense frustrated.
Neither team was able to find the net in the second or third period.
The Sabres once again had excellent opportunities to take the extra point, but Gretchen Paaverud stood tall.
The Falcons skated away with the victory when Mackaylan McGown closed the scoring from the far post off a pass from Abby Hansberger and a secondary assist to junior Brenna-Grace Dittmer (Chatham-Kent, Ontario).
Gretchen Paaverud finished with 27 saves in the victory.
CUW owned the faceoff circle again on Saturday, winning 40 of the 64 draws. Mackaylan McGown won 16, while sophomore Taylor Heleniak (Mercer, Wis.) finished with 12, Freshman Julie Barlow (Bassano, Alberta) won eight of 12 and freshman Faith Fedyniak (St. Albert, Alberta) won both of hers.
Concordia held Marian to only two shots on four total power-play opportunities.
Saturday marked the first overtime victory for the Falcons since winning the Border Battle Cup against Lake Forest on Nov. 23, 2024.
The Falcons finish as the No. 2 seed in the NCHA standings and will host Aurora in the Slaats Cup Quarterfinals. Top-seed Adrian will host Trine, No. 3 St. Norbert will welcome MSOE and No. 4 Lake Forest hosts Marian.
