St. Norbert defeats Gustavus Adolphus 3-1 in the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament. (Photo by Odin Fouchier – Gustavus Sports Information)
#5 Gustavus Adolphus at #6 St. Norbert
Friday, October 31 – 7 PM | Saturday, November 1 – 2 PM CST
Gustavus leads all-time series 4–1–0
Revenge or Repeat: Gustavus and St. Norbert Renew Rivalry to Open 2025 Season
As the NCAA Division III Women’s season begins, one of the marquee matchups of opening weekend features the No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties traveling to De Pere, Wisconsin, to take on the No. 6 St. Norbert College Green Knights at the Resch Olympic Pavilion. These two programs haven’t met in the regular season since 2018, but they rekindled their rivalry in last year’s NCAA Tournament, where St. Norbert pulled off a 3–1 upset in the first round.
For Gustavus, the loss ended both a strong 21–7–0 campaign and a four-year MIAC title streak that was snapped by Augsburg. The 2023 National Champions return 65.32% of their total points from last season, including standout captain Lily Mortenson, who tallied 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points in 28 games. With Mortenson leading the charge and plenty of veteran experience, the Golden Gusties will be looking for a strong rebound and a statement to start their season.
St. Norbert, meanwhile, continues to build momentum after making history with its first NCAA Tournament win and just its second national appearance overall. Under Head Coach A.J. Aitken, the Green Knights have recorded 20 or more wins in every season except his first. While the team loses significant offensive production—returning only 52.09% of total points and parting with the Hogan twins, who combined for 69 points—they retain star goaltender Keira Markell.
Keira Markell – St. Norbert College (Photo by Patrick Ferron)
Markell impressed as a freshman, finishing with a 1.68 GAA, .930 SV%, three shutouts, and a 14–4–1 record. Her composure and consistency in net will be vital for a team looking to reload quickly. Forward Noelle Hemr also returns after a breakout year, posting 13 goals and 14 assists while earning MIAC All-Conference honors and the Molly Doyle Most Outstanding First-Year award.
Special teams could be the deciding factor this weekend. Gustavus finished fifth nationally on the power play last season, converting at a 29.6% rate, while St. Norbert ranked 12th with 25 goals on 111 opportunities. On the penalty kill, the Green Knights were 16th in the country, allowing only seven goals on 97 kills, compared to Gustavus, which fell outside the top 30.
This top-10 matchup features two talented programs with unfinished business. The Golden Gusties will look for redemption after last year’s early exit, while the Green Knights aim to defend home ice and start the season strong. Puck drop is set for Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 2 PM CST in what should be one of the premier matchups of opening weekend.
