Byron Center, Mich. -- Building a program takes patience. But an eight-goal night sure helps. For Coach Tae Otte and the Aquinas women's hockey team, this season begins with establishing stability, strengthening a culture of pride and putting in the work to move the Saints forward. Friday at Southside Ice Arena, that work came with something the Maroon and White needed: an 8-0 victory over Saginaw Valley State, win number one on the season and the first of Otte's tenure leading AQ.
Aquinas 8, Saginaw Valley State 0
The scoreboard stayed quiet through the opening period, with the Saints and Cardinals heading into the first intermission tied 0-0. Then the dam broke. Paige Ike opened the scoring with 17:49 remaining in the second period, just over two minutes into the frame. Nine seconds later, Lorelei Weinrick put the biscuit in the basket, and suddenly the Saints had a 2-0 lead. The quick strikes set the stage for an eight-goal night for the Maroon and White.
The Saints spread the scoring across six goal scorers, giving their breakthrough victory the teamwide stamp Otte has been working toward. Joleena Manone and Weinrick led the finishing effort with two goals apiece. Adeline O'Rourke, Jax Graham and MacKenzie Sebenaler joined Ike with one goal each, while Graham added an assist for a two-point performance.
The Saints' scoring depth extended well beyond those finding the net. Paisleigh Upshaw, Anna Sherman and Lucy Quaine each supplied two assists. The trio helped keep the offense connected, sharing the puck and spreading the opportunities. Reyna Dominczak, Carley Sedlar and Caitlyn Wright added one assist apiece. In all, 12 Saints registered at least one point.
At the other end, Izzy Buckett and Kaylee Daigle shared the work and the shutout. Buckett earned the victory, stopping all five shots she faced during 33:01 in net. Daigle handled the remaining 26:59 and turned aside all four of her shots.
Aquinas held a 75-9 advantage in shots on goal, pairing its offensive volume with a defensive effort that limited Saginaw Valley State's opportunities. The Cardinals' goaltending tandem combined for 67 saves, but the Saints still found the net eight times. Elizabeth Bruso and Zofia Orlowska also took the ice in a victory Otte credited to contributions throughout her lineup.
For a program establishing its identity under a new head coach, the result offered a welcome boost of confidence. The next challenge is carrying that confidence into another week of preparation and the competition ahead.
Aquinas improved to 1-3 overall, while Saginaw Valley State fell to 3-2.
Saints Snapshots
- A breakthrough worth building on. Otte's first victory leading the Saints delivered a tangible reward for a program establishing its culture and confidence.
- Nine seconds changed the night. After a scoreless opening period, Ike and Weinrick struck in rapid succession to give AQ a two-goal advantage.
- Offense with options. Six goal scorers and 12 point producers spread the success, with Manone and Weinrick each finding the net twice.
- Sharing the success. Upshaw, Sherman and Quaine each delivered two assists as the Saints turned puck movement into production.
- A clean sheet, together. Buckett and Daigle combined for nine saves as the Saints matched their offensive breakthrough with a shutout.
Coach's Comments
Following her first victory as Aquinas' head coach, Otte credited the entire lineup and emphasized that the value of the win extends to what the Saints do next.
"That was a much needed win for our team and all of our players had a positive impact on the results. It was truly a team effort," Otte said. "Now we need to take the confidence we gained from this weekend into our future competitions."
Up Next
The Saints have the rest of the weekend to enjoy win number one before returning to a week of practice and a home-and-home series with Purdue Northwest.
Aquinas travels to Hammond, Ind., to face the Lions on Friday, Oct. 16, before returning to Southside Ice Arena for the rematch Saturday, Oct. 17. Both games are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
Saturday's home game will stream live on the AQSaints YouTube Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call.
For complete coverage of AQ women's hockey and all Saints sports, regularly visit AQSaints.com for updates, stories, features, stats and highlights.
It's a great day to be a Saint.
