Women’s NCAA Tournament First Round Recap: Flights, Flights, & More Flights! The Quarterfinal Stage Has Been Set!

After an opening round which featured three flights, we set our eyes on the quarterfinals which will feature another two, followed by a Frozen Four that has the potential to feature a few more depending on who wins this weekend. Let’s look at each matchup from this past weekend and see how we got to these quarterfinal games as shown in the updated bracket above!

The Ephs end the Cardinals, set their sights on #1 Wisconsin-River Falls

Williams 2-1 OT Plattsburgh

Williams continued one of their best seasons as of late, defeating the Plattsburgh Cardinals 2-1 in overtime. The Cardinals as we discussed previously really turned around their season after starting with one of the worst records in the program’s great history, but finished the season a remarkable 15-1-1 in their final 17 games.

The Ephs on the other hand, won their most games since the 2018-19 season under head coach Meghan Gillis and are led by their goaltender Erin Pye. Earlier this season, the Ephs defeated the Cardinals in a non-conference matchup, winning a slim 2-1 which included a 39-save effort from Pye.

In this one, The Cardinals led in shots 29-24 and the penalties were minimal. After a scoreless opening period, the Cardinals got on the board first, scoring just over five minutes into the period was Bailey Mackellar, her team-leading 14th of the season. Going into the 3rd period, the Cardinals led 1-0, but just over two minutes in, Charlotte Fetherston tied things up, assisted by Lucie Bond. These two are tied for first on the team in points as it’s an extremely balanced Ephs squad, three players with 19 points, seven others with at least 10.

As we headed to overtime, Williams would score the winner pretty quick into the extra frame. Savana Littlewood (the third player with 19 points) ended the game a brisk three minutes-eighteen seconds into overtime.

Williams now sets their sights on the behemoth #1 Wisconsin River Falls (27-1-0), the back-to-back national champions who’re looking to win & host their third-straight Frozen Four. They’ll hop on a flight to likely Minneapolis, MN and bus over to River Falls, looking to book a return flight home with more hockey to play.

Elmira wins in March.

Elmira 3-1 Augsburg

I tweeted after this game and simply said “Elmira wins in March”. The Soaring Eagles defeated the previously unbeaten Nazareth Golden Flyers in the UCHC finals, earning their way in via the auto-bid and then hopping on a flight to Minneapolis to face Augsburg who fell in the Frozen Four last season to #1 Wisconsin-River Falls. Augsburg definitely entered this game as the favorite, but as Scott Huston said in his Women’s NCAA First Round Notes article:

“Augsburg has been a little too reliant on their transition game to score, and they’ve shown they can be shut down against a team that can skate with them, as the Auggies are as fast as just about anyone.  If Elmira can keep up, they’ve got a much better shot.  I’m very curious to see who Augsburg plays in net as well.  There’s a bit of a controversy brewing with two elite goaltenders splitting time.  There is a phrase though, that “if you have two goalies, you have none,” so we’ll see how that shakes out.”

It turned out to be just that… Elmira took advantage of their opportunities and got out with another NCAA ‘upset’ win.

In this one, we saw a scoreless opening period, common theme this round it seems. Followed by a four-goal middle frame. Alayna Toole got on the board first, scoring at 6:24, which was followed up by Augsburg’s Jenna Allen a rapid 13 seconds later at 6:37.

About eight minutes later, Elmira’s Rian Comeau got her team back on top again, burying one off an assist from MK Boyle. Speaking of MK Boyle, she would score herself after a late Elmira penalty, netting a shorthanded goal in the final thirty seconds (19:35.1) of the 2nd period, giving the Soaring Eagles a 3-1 lead which would hold up through the end of the game.

Elmira goaltender Olivia Last played a great game, making 30 saves on 31 shots after coming off a 29-save effort against Nazareth in the UCHC final, while Marissa Paaske made 18 saves on 21 shots for Augsburg in the loss.

Next up for Elmira will be a bus ride to Amherst where the Soaring Eagles will look to upset the Mammoths once again as they did during their 2023-24 national runner-up effort against #1 Wisconsin-River Falls.

Amherst survives the Bennies, will look to avenge their 2023-24 Quarterfinal loss to Elmira

Amherst 2-1 OT Saint Benedict

A cool story this season that we’ve discussed is the Bennies of Saint Benedict, led by head coach Lindsay Macy, they’ve put together the best season in program history and it’s not necessarily close. Despite falling to Amherst in the first round this year in overtime, the Bennies won the MIAC, defeating both Hamline & Gustavus in the process.

In this one, the Bennies physically seemed to have the edge, lots of Mammoths were finding themselves off their feet especially in the 3rd period of play. I think a lot of people were surprised by the play of the Bennies since I don’t believe many fans out east or Amherst-specific, followed much, if any Saint Benedict hockey this season.

The story of this game was that it went exactly how most Amherst game went this season, winning on two or fewer goals, and overtime. Amherst was held to two or fewer goals (win or loss) in 14 games this season and including this one, an astounding nine games went to overtime (32%).

The Mammoths outshot the Bennies heavily, leading that battle 45-25. This game featured two incredible goaltenders, one a senior that’s accumulated many accolades and set record-after-record, then a freshman who’s played a large part in this record-setting season for her squad. Natalie Stott continued her incredible play, making 24 saves in the shutout victory and is looking to get back to the national championship. Lexi Badali made 43 saves (previous season high was 41 against Bethel on 12/5/2025) and has a bright future ahead as she’s got another three seasons to go.

In this one, Saint Benedict led 1-0 after two periods, which included a scoreless opening frame, followed by a rapid goal in the 2nd period by Jorja Jusczak a brisk 40 seconds into the period, which held up through 40 minutes of play.

Amherst would tie things up of course, Ayla Abban scored just over seven minutes into the period, getting some momentum back in Orr Rink. Then we would get to overtime, which again, Amherst is very familiar with having played in eight of them up until this point. Their star defenseman Gretchen Dann would end it off the rebound opportunity, scoring to keep the Mammoths home where they’ll host the team that eliminated them in the NCAA quarterfinal round in the 2023-24 season, Elmira College.

Amherst looks to return to the national championship game where they finished as the national runner-up to Wisconsin-River Falls last season 3-1 & Gustavus back in 2022-23, losing 2-1 in an incredible three overtime contest.

The Pipers shutout the Gulls, booking their ticket to Vermont

Hamline 3-0 Endicott

It’s not too often you get to see an east/west crossover series in a season where both teams play in each team’s home rink. Sometimes you see this where teams will participate in a holiday tournament on ‘neutral ice’, but rare is it that you get to see a ‘home / home’ series between a team from Massachusetts & Minnesota.

Earlier this season Hamline dominated Endicott in Beverly, MA in the Pipers’ first game out east, winning 5-1 with a few disallowed goals. This game was similar in the sense that Endicott goaltending kept this game from getting a lot worse than the scoreboard may lead you to believe. The Pipers outshot the Gulls 43-19, including a differential of 14-3 after the 1st and 33-11 after the 2nd, but only held a 1-0 lead due to the great goaltending from Gull goaltender Lauren Ferrari.

Both teams were scoreless after the 1st period, but Hamline finally broke through just past the midway point of the 2nd period, scoring was Nina Thorson to put Hamline up 1-0 in the TRIA. Entering the final period, Endicott showed signs of life, creating some chances and with their goaltender keeping them in the game, tying the game up wasn’t out of the question despite the overall control Hamline showed throughout the game.

In the 3rd, Hamline’s second-leading goalscorer Ashlyn Abrahamson sealed the deal, scoring a powerplay goal a quick five minutes into the period, then adding an empty-netter with just under two minutes left in the game, sending her Pipers to Norwich where head coach Jake Bobrowski found himself in a few big games during his time at Elmira. Goaltender Kendra Nordick made 19 saves in her shutout victory, it seems as though she’ll get the playoff nod after her and her teammate Harper Powell split time largely throughout the season, both putting up stellar numbers.

Up next for the Pipers as mentioned is a trip to the Northeast in Vermont to face the Cadets of Norwich in the fun Kreitzberg Arena where they’ll look to return to the Frozen Four for the first time since they were the national runner-up to Plattsburgh in 2019 (played in Mendota Heights, MN). Hamline will be one of the better teams of course that the Cadets have faced this season, but Norwich has been battled-tested against four NCAA tournament-qualifying teams, facing Plattsburgh, Williams, Amherst, & Elmira.

Wilkes make a statement against the Bulldogs, eye their first ever Frozen Four

Wilkes 2-1 Adrian

A game that to myself and many others was a wildcard. On one side was a Wilkes squad that despite the record, only played three non-conference games this season in the MAC. On the other side, we had Adrian who had a dynamite offense, but struggled in games against ranked opponents this season, finishing the season (including their game against Wilkes) 2-6-0, but went a perfect 22-0-0 against unranked opponents… This, added with their transfer portal issues early in the season, was shadowing a potential ‘upset’ in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Some may say Wilkes was the favorite considering their 24-1-1 record (and NPI rank), but Adrian has had a long history in NCAA tournaments and Wilkes has only made one appearance (last year) prior to this given the age of the program and their revitalization under their head coach Dave LaBaff.

In this one, Wilkes got on the board first, scoring late in the opening period was Jordan Ferry, giving the Colonels a 1-0 lead after the 1st. The Colonel lead would later double just before the midway mark of the 2nd period as Abby Bush buried one to put Adrian in a spot I’m not sure they pictured themselves in about midway through the game.

Shortly after falling down 2-0, Adrian would get one back, scoring on the powerplay was Courtney Ben with just over five minutes remaining in the middle frame. All things considered, the penalties were scarce. Adrian committing only one and Wilkes with two.

Looking at the numbers, Adrian slightly outshot Wilkes, leading 33-29, but Audrey Milne made 32 saves in the win and continued her stellar play that she’s had all season, sitting with a .947 save-percentage & 1.17 GAA. Kiera Stack made 27 saves for the Bulldogs despite the loss.

Up next for Wilkes is a squad with an identical record, Nazareth University, both teams sitting 25-1-1. Nazareth earned the first-round bye and both teams look to advance to their first-ever Frozen Four as Nazareth hasn’t made it past the quarterfinal round and Wilkes just won their first-ever NCAA playoff game after falling to Colby last season in the first round. Regardless, we’ll see a new face in the Frozen Four who will be matched against the winner of Norwich & Hamline for a ticket to the national championship game.