Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. — The long road trip to Lake Superior State is never easy, and for the Aquinas Saints Women's Hockey team, the challenge was even greater with their postseason hopes already out of reach. Facing a tough Lakers squad on the road, Aquinas struggled to generate offense, ultimately falling in back-to-back shutout losses that marked the end of their regular season.

Friday: Lake Superior State 5, Aquinas 0

The Lakers wasted no time setting the tone, scoring just 1:28 into the game. Lindsey Tonello capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, netting an unassisted goal with the poise of a penalty shot. Lake Superior State kept the pressure on, adding two more goals to take a commanding 3-0 lead by the first intermission.

Aquinas tightened up defensively in the final two periods, but with their offense struggling to find rhythm, a comeback never materialized. Despite the loss, goaltender Izzy Buckett put forth a strong effort in net, stopping 39 of 44 shots to keep the game from getting out of hand.

Saturday: Lake Superior State 7, Aquinas 0

With one final game to close out the season, head coach Matthew Bland looked to rally his team for a strong finish. While the Saints continued to battle, the Lakers came out determined to dominate. Lake Superior State controlled the game from start to finish, securing a decisive 7-0 victory and sweeping the series.

Offensive struggles plagued Aquinas once again, as the Saints managed just 15 shots on goal—bringing their two-game total to 34. Meanwhile, Buckett was busy between the pipes, making 42 saves on 49 shots.

Season Recap & Key Stats

The Saints close out the 2024-25 regular season with a 3-17 overall record and a 1-9 mark in conference play. It was a tough season, but the team showed resilience in the face of adversity.

By the Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: The Saints were outshot 93-34 over the weekend
• Goaltending Performance: Izzy Buckett was a bright spot, making 81 saves on 93 shots over the two games for a .871 save percentage.

Looking Ahead

With the regular season now in the books, the Aquinas Women's Hockey team turns its focus to the future. Despite the struggles, the team remains determined to improve and take steps forward in the 2025-26 campaign. A huge thank-you goes out to all the supporters who stood by the Saints throughout this challenging season. The Saints will start the post season on Friday at 1:30 p.m. as they travel to Eddie Edgar Ice Arena in Livonia, MI to play UM Dearborn.