Byron Center, Mich. — The Aquinas College women's hockey team began their 2025 schedule with a home game versus Davenport on Saturday (Jan. 11). AQ went on to both open and close the contest with goals with a number in between as they went on to earn their first win of the season, 6-2.

Aquinas 6, Davenport 2

The contest began as both teams attempted to find their stride. Aquinas found it first as Kaeleigh Kachmarski struck one in with an assist by Paige Ike with seven minutes remaining in the first period. AQ kept the furnace burning but couldn't find another log before the end of the first. 

The second did see the Saints find their next tally as this time, Reyna Dominczak finished in another pass from Ike just over 90 seconds into the second. Davenport did find a rebuttal with less than five minutes to go in the period, earning their first mark of the contest. The Saints took it personal as Kachmarski returned to the stat sheet with a goal as this time around Anna Castle supplied the assist, with just 90 seconds remaining. The short remainder of the period saw no further goals.

The third and final period of regulation started off with a bang as AQ earned their fourth goal off a power play as Kate Kramm finished a combination pass from Dominczak and Alyssa Exline. DU still had some life and tallied their second close to 11 minutes later. Putting the game at 4-2 in favor of the Saints. AQ was feeling the fire as they went on to score two more goals. Castle smashed in a pass from Ike at the five-minute mark. Ike would finish off the Panthers with an unassisted goal with 2:10 left on the clock.

The remainder of the contest saw Aquinas and Davenport trade shots, but no team could mark an additional tally. Aquinas took their first win of the season and 2025 with a finish of 6-2.

Here is what Head Coach Matthew Bland had to share about the win "The team has been working really hard to get ready for this semester. We executed the game plan and played hard at both ends of the ice. It's always fun when we play our cross town rivals, and play that well."


By the Numbers

• Keeper Izzy Buckett put on an effort as she went 22/24, giving her a .916 save rate on the evening
• Ike led the Saints as she collected three assists and one goal
• Five total Saints found themselves on the stat sheet with this healthy showing
• This contest also saw the collegiate debut of Brooke Johnson

Up Next

The Saints are right back in action as they will make way to Hudsonville, Michigan, to take on the Grand Valley State Lakers at Griffs Georgetown with a 1:30 p.m. puck drop.