2025 Women’s Frozen Four Notes

After thee road teams pulled upsets in the opening round, the home teams held serve this past Saturday, defending their home ice. In the age-old rest vs. rust debate, the rest appeared beneficial as all those teams with byes came out strong, and didn’t have much of any rust to shake off.  Now, our attention returns to River Falls, Wisconsin, as the Falcons play host to what should be yet another thrilling championship weekend.  If you’re there, feel free to say hello, as I’ll be covering the event.

Frozen Four Schedule

-all games held at Hunt Arena of UW-River Falls

Friday: 3:00 PM CT- #3 Middlebury (21-6-1) vs. #2 Amherst (22-5-1)

Friday: 7:00 PM CT- #4 UW-River Falls (24-3-2) vs. #1 Augsburg (24-3-1)

Sunday: 3:00 PM CT- Friday winner #1 vs. Friday winner #2

#4 UW-River Falls vs. #1 Augsburg

The last 5 years or so, there’s no denying these programs are two of the five most dominant western programs in the women’s game.  The Auggies have stacked up an impressive 97-40-7 record since the start of the 2019-20 season in arguably the most competitive conference in the country.  In that same timespan, UWRF has blown through the WIAC, going 139-21-7, the best mark in the nation.  Along with Gustavus, Adrian, and Eau Claire, there’s no doubt that these are two programs you need to circle on your schedule every single season.  The Falcons lead the all-time series 13-3-1, including a 7-2-1 record while playing in River Falls.  However, the last three between these programs have been quite close.

When it comes to the postseason, this is where these programs are quite different.  As I’m sure you know, River Falls is trying to make history and repeat as national champions for the first time since Plattsburgh’s dominance from 2015-2018.  After the undefeated season last year, this season has been challenging in different ways for head coach Joe Cranston.  Regardless of what happens this weekend, it’s been another masterclass by the Falcons, getting back to this point in the season after losing a good deal to graduation last season.

Augsburg on the other hand, has very much been a program that’s consistently good (although I would argue great), but has not been able to get the job done in the program’s biggest moments.  They’ve also had the extreme misfortune of playing in a very difficult league that doesn’t seem to get the benefit of the doubt with the calculators in charge of selecting postseason teams.  But in 2024-25, everything is turning up great for the Auggies, as first-year coach Elizabeth Bauer has taken a team with a few vets and lots of youth, and molded it into a title contender, making the program’s first NCAA tournament ever, and just their 2nd national postseason appearance.

The Falcons are making their 7th Frozen Four as a program, having made the championship game twice in their previous 6 trips, going 1-1 in the title game, win the win obviously coming on home ice against Elmira last season.  For what it’s worth, in their previous 4 Third Place games, when they existed, they went 2-2.  The Auggies AWCHA title appearance was the first-ever national championship held at the Division III level, but predated the NCAA sponsoring the sport.  It still goes in the record books though, as Augsburg has one National Runner-Up finish, as the Auggies fell to Middlebury in a best-of-three series in Boston, way back in 2000.

Common Opponents:

Let’s start with the most clear datapoint, and that is the time these two teams played each other.  In what seems like years ago, back in early November, the Auggies opened their season in the same building they’ll be playing this weekend.  For the Falcons, it was their 2nd game, which helped, as all banner-raising distractions were gone from the game prior.

The Auggies and Falcons battled hard in a back-and-forth game.  UWRF came back from down a goal three times before jumping ahead late in the game, 4-3.  Then, with the netminder pulled, the Auggies scored with just 13 seconds remaining, tying the game.  After a scoreless OT, the two teams settled for a tie.  This game showed just how competitive these two are with one another, and cemented them both as national title contenders, right from the jump.  Both teams have changed a lot in the last four and a half months, and now both are playing what seems like their best hockey.

In terms of common opponents, expectedly, we have a lot of crossover between the two, as they’re just 41 miles apart.

• The Auggies blew out UW-Superior on the road 6-0, while the Falcons beat UWS all five times they played, including 2 road victories.
• Each team swept a pair of games in Moorhead, Minnesota, as they beat the Cobbers of Concordia.
• The Falcons won a road tilt at Scholastica, while the Auggies swept the Saints in a pair of 3-0 shutouts, with one at home, the other away.
• Against a team both would consider their rival, Augsburg went 2-1 against fellow NCAA tournament team Gustavus, going 1-1 at home with the win coming in OT of the MIAC title game.  The Falcons played the Gusties 3 times as well, but dropped 2 of 3, going 1-1 at home.
• Augsburg shutout Stevens Point 6-0 at home, while the Falcons went 2-0-1 against the Pointers.  UWRF’s tie came at home, with both wins coming on the road.
• Augsburg dropped a road game to UW-Eau Claire, while the Falcons beat the Blugolds all four times, three of them coming at home, and many in dominant fashion.
• The Falcons went 3-0 vs. Northland in their last season of competition, with one win coming on the road.  Augsburg shutout the LumberJills in their only meeting in Ashland, WI.
• UWRF smashed St. Olaf on the road early in the season, while the Oles were very much struggling.  Augsburg got them at a tougher time in the season, but still swept SOC in a 2-game home-and-away set.
• River Falls easily defeated St. Kate’s at home, while the Auggies beat SCU twice in another home-and-away set
• UWRF took care of Saint Ben’s in a season-opening celebration, while the Auggies defeated the Bennies on home ice, while dropping an overtime game to them in St. Cloud.
• The Auggies beat a good Saint Mary’s team three straight games, with two coming at home, and the last one being a 4OT thriller in the MIAC semifinal that broke records.  The Falcons escaped the Cardinals in their only meeting, winning with just seconds left in overtime in a heart-stopping thriller.

In a very large sample size of games, the Falcons went 22-2-1, while the Auggies went 17-3-0.  This stat in itself, is a prime example of how much crossover play matters to certain conferences.

Final Look:

I am absolutely fired up to get to watch this game in what will be a packed house at Hunt Arena, with two large fanbases hungry for a chance at a title.  Both teams looked strong last week, as they defended home ice.  River Falls got Elmira in the national championship rematch, and although the Soaring Eagles battled hard, the Falcons were way too much for EC.  RF dominated most of the play, and even Elmira’s defensive structure wasn’t quite enough for the nation’s top offense.

Augsburg started pretty strong against an upset-minded St. Norbert last week, but was snake-bitten with some unlucky bounces early on.  Regardless, the Auggies marched on, exploding for four goals in the middle period, putting themselves in firm control against the Green Knights.  SNC tried to muster a few chances in the third, but most of those didn’t make the Auggie goaltender Kayla Simonson sweat too much.

Friday night, the rink will be packed, loud, and warm, with students just returning from spring break.  Tickets are already sold out, and I’m sure this game will live up to the hype.  Both these squads are proven winners, and despite RF having the “home crowd,”  the Auggies will have droves of supporters as well.  For those attending, just keep in mind who is on whose bench, and who’s wearing what color.  You may do a double take!  (Hint: Auggies in white, Falcons in red)

#3 Middlebury vs. #2 Amherst

Well, I think most people had a feeling we’d get here at some point.  Despite the insane amount of parity we’ve seen this season, and the loss column being a little bit larger than usual for these two, the Mammoths and Panthers will be squaring off to see who the east representative in the national championship will be.  In the first semifinal that will be played on Friday, we have two of the best seven or eight programs in the history of the sport.  Not to mention, they are rivals with one another, and they know each other about as well as any two teams in the country.  The conference foes have matched up 68 times previously, with Middlebury holding the all-time series 39-13-16.

For the Panthers, this is business as usual, not only as one of the blue bloods of women’s hockey, but as a team that was in this exact scenario last season, although last year’s team was a little more of an underdog story, if you can even call Middlebury an underdog.  The Panthers fell in the national semifinal at Hunt Arena in 2024 to Elmira.  This season, they have been expected to get here, not only from the time the season started, but throughout the season, as the #3 seed heading into this tournament.  As a group, they’ve gotten through a couple of lulls, but have proven to be one of the best teams all season long, playing a pretty tough schedule.

For the Mammoths, they’re experiencing a resurgence as a program, as under the last few years, they’ve emerged as one of the perennial favorites to cut the nets.  They have many juniors and seniors who have won aplenty under coach Jeff Matthews, and have paired them with a couple impact freshmen that have made this a season to remember for Amherst.  They’ve used last season’s quarterfinal upset as fuel to help return to the Frozen Four, and potentially, another chance at playing for a national title.

For Middlebury, their success is almost unparalleled, as this is their 11th Frozen Four, but 13th including the Panthers’ first two national titles, sponsored by the AWCHA, back in 2000 and 2001.  I’ll give them 13 in my book.  Including the AWCHA years, Midd has reached the title game eight times, winning six national championships.  They’ll try to earn their first since their undefeated team in 2022.

Amherst has also shown the program’s extremely high pedigree over the years.  This will be the Mammoths’ fifth Frozen Four as a program and second in three years.  The program has two national titles, which came back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.  They also earned Second Place one time following their defeat two years ago at the hands of Gustavus.  Amherst has earned their third straight NCAA bid for the first time since the 2007-2010 run of success.  This year, they’re ready to finish the job.

Common Opponents:

Both being NESCAC teams, we will obviously have a plethora of like opponents, but let’s rewind to the three previous games between these two powerhouses.  Back in January, the teams played a 2-game series hosted by Middlebury.

In Game 1, the two teams traded goals in the first period, before the goals dried up.  Amherst outplayed the Panthers in the 3rd period and OT, but neither team found the back of the net, allegedly.  There was an extremely controversial moment in 3 on 3 OT, where Middlebury looked to have scored, but the play was waved off immediately.  You’d have to ask those who were there what they thought on it, because the broadcast camera didn’t provide the best view.

The next day, Middlebury took control early in the 2nd period, going up 2-0.  Amherst got one back midway through the game, but an early 3rd period strike from the Panthers but them back up by a pair.  That shot was the only one from Middlebury in the 3rd, as they were content to head into their shell and play solid defense.  Amherst dominated the third, but couldn’t solve Sophia Will.

Lastly, just three weeks ago, the two met up in Amherst for the NESCAC tournament championship.  This one was intense, and… you guessed it: low-scoring.  It felt like a playoff environment for sure inside snug Orr Rink, but Amherst was able to finally find the back of the net early in the 3rd period, as that goal held up as the game-winner.  The Mammoths outplayed the Panthers that day, evening the season series at 1-1-1.  This one will be for all the marbles.

Now onto the common opponents:

• Middlebury swept a road series at Hamilton to open their season, while the Mammoths went 3-0 versus the Continentals, with all three wins at home, and one coming in overtime.
• Midd swept a home series versus Wesleyan, with one OT win, while Amherst split the road series against the Cardinals.
• The Panthers split an away series at Connecticut College, while Amherst won a trio of home games versus the Camels.
• Middlebury split a home series against Bowdoin, while the Mammoths shutout the Polar Bears 3-0 in both games, taking place in Amherst.
• Both teams swept 2-game series against Trinity, with both of Midd’s wins coming at home, while Amherst won one on the road, and one at home.
• Amherst beat Williams twice at home, while Middlebury went 2-1 against the Ephs, going 2-0 at home, and the most recent coming in OT in the NESCAC quarterfinals.
• Colby gave both these teams fits, as both teams went 1-2 against the Mules.  However, both teams got wins when they mattered most, Middlebury during the NESCAC semis, and for Amherst, last weekend in the NCAA tournament.
  • Middlebury beat Colby on a neutral site, and went 0-2 on the road.
  • Amherst defeated the Mules at home, while also dropping both games at Colby.
• Both teams shutout Nazareth, with Middlebury’s win coming last weekend at home, and Amherst’s coming at a neutral site at the Norwich tournament.

Overall, against common opponents, Middlebury went 12-5-0, while Amherst went 15-3-0.

Final Look:

As we talked about above, games between these two tend to be tight-checking and extremely defensive, with very few goals.  Given that playoff games also tend to lead towards that direction, don’t be shocked if you can’t remember either team’s goal song after Friday has past.  A shutout is definitely on the table when both teams have netminders as good as these two.  Juniors Sophia Will of Middlebury and Natalie Stott of Amherst have won a lot of games, and are among the best I’ve ever seen.

Amherst’s offense has been extremely opportunistic this season, taking advantage of the chances when they come about.  They oftentimes let the game come to them, play smart, and let the other team make the mistakes.  They did just that against a familiar foe in Colby last week, so they’ll be looking to replicate that against another recognizable opponent.  In the end, Amherst won comfortably, 4-1 against the Mules, and were able to give their fans a relatively low-stress end-of-game, after being in some nail-biting overtime games their last two trips to the NCAAs.

The Panthers were in an absolute slugfest last week against Nazareth, as the Golden Flyers showed themselves quite well, going blow for blow with the #3 seed.  Middlebury had the edge in play, but it was just that: an edge.  It was quite close throughout, and a snipe from Panther forward Kate Flynn was all that the scoreboard showed after 60 minutes.  Naz pushed very hard in the third period, but this Middlebury team is so comfortable playing in their own zone, that the Panthers never looked rushed or played frantically.  The Panthers were able to run out the clock and advance in a style they feel very comfortable playing.

There’s no question that both teams will have to keep the long flight in mind.  Neither of these teams ever really fly as a team too often, unless it’s a team bonding trip somewhere.  However, keep in mind that Middlebury went through this song and dance just over a year ago, into the same airport, into the same city, and practicing and playing at the same rink.  So, maybe they’re a little more equipped to handle it.  As always, time will tell, but I expect a very competitive opening game of the Frozen Four in River Falls, and perhaps, a little overtime.