MEQUON, Wis. – Playoff hockey has returned to the shores of Lake Michigan as the Concordia University Wisconsin women's hockey team opens the 2026 Slaats Cup Playoffs at home against the Spartans of AUrora in the quarterfinal round.
The Falcons enter postseason play with a 22-2-1 overall record and the No. 2 seed after compiling a 16-1-1 mark in conference action. Aurora travels north as the seventh seed at 10-14-0 overall and 8-10-0 in league play.
Tonight marks the 23rd all-time meeting between the programs. Aurora holds a 13-8-1 edge in the series, though the Falcons claimed both regular-season matchups in January by scores of 7-1 and 5-2. The teams last met in the postseason during the 2022 quarterfinals, when the Spartans advanced with 7-4 and 7-0 wins.
Concordia Wisconsin is making its 14th appearance in the Slaats Cup Playoffs and has now qualified for the ninth consecutive season, the longest streak in program history. The Falcons are 8-18-2 all-time in the tournament and 1-2 in minigames. The Blue and White have reached the semifinals four times (2025, 2021, 2015, 2011) and advanced to the finals in 2015.
The Falcons enter the playoffs following a weekend sweep of Marian, earning 3-2 and 2-1 victories. Aurora rides into the quarterfinals on its longest winning streak of the season at five games, highlighted by a season-best nine-goal outing against Dubuque on Saturday.
Concordia Wisconsin ranks among the nation's top 10 in seven statistical categories. The Falcons are fifth in assists with 153, sixth in points with 252, seventh in goals with 99 and eighth in scoring margin at 2.52. They also rank eighth in scoring offense at 3.96 goals per game and eighth in faceoff winning percentage at .576.
Individually, Mackaylan McGown ranks third nationally with 347 faceoff wins. McGown and Abby Hansberger are tied for fourth in the country with five game-winning goals apiece. Hansberger also ranks fifth nationally in assists per game at 0.96 and seventh in points per game at 1.68. Naomi Black is fifth in the nation with six power-play goals, while Makayla Spejcher ranks eighth with five. In net, Gretchen Paaverud is seventh in winning percentage at .844 and 11th nationally with four shutouts.
Fans can purchase tickets with cash only at the Ozaukee Ice Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for college students and $3 for children.
