Dearborn, Mich. — The Aquinas College women's hockey team continues to show growth, even if the win-loss column doesn't fully reflect their progress. On Friday night, the Saints fell 10-1 to UM-Dearborn, a score that may seem one-sided but doesn't tell the full story of their effort and development.

UM-Dearborn 10, Aquinas 1

The Wolverines came out aggressive, outshooting the Saints 23-5 in the first period and building an insurmountable 6-1 lead after the opening frame. Face-offs were another key factor, with UM-Dearborn dominating the circle—AQ won just 36% (22 of 61) of draws.

Aquinas' lone goal came midway through the first period when Julia DeHondt set up Kaeleigh Kachmarski for a well-placed finish. Despite generating multiple scoring opportunities, the Saints couldn't capitalize. Defenseman Kate Kramm led the team with five shots on goal.

Goaltender Izzy Buckett was once again a standout performer, facing an overwhelming 64 shots and stopping 54. While the Saints' defense has been improving, they struggled to contain UM-Dearborn's relentless attack, leaving their goalie under heavy pressure.

Head Coach Matthew Bland praised his team's resilience despite the outcome, "No matter the circumstances, this team supports each other and competes for 60 minutes. Losses will never break us; we just keep learning and battling."

By the Numbers:

• Kaeleigh Kachmarski – Scored AQ's only goal of the night.
• Shots on Goal – The Saints were outshot 64-19, struggling to match UM-Dearborn's offensive intensity.
• Izzy Buckett – Continues to shine in the net, making 54 saves in another strong performance.

Up Next:

The Saints will take the ice for an exhibition game against GRAHA 19U at Patterson Ice Arena on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. They will then begin a two-game home-and-home series against Indiana Tech, starting with a Friday afternoon matchup at South Side Ice Arena, with puck drop set for 2:30 p.m.