Women's Ice Hockey | 10/25/2026 1:41:00 AM

Byron Center, Mich. Getting better each game and each week sounds pretty simple — until the puck drops and the other team gets a vote. For the Aquinas College women's hockey team, that commitment faced two different tests against Lawrence Tech: learning from a lead that slipped away Friday and showing Saturday what the Saints could do with that lesson. The Maroon and White answered a 2-2 road tie with a convincing 5-0 victory at Southside Ice Arena, completing an unbeaten home-and-home weekend and giving head coach Taelynn Otte another encouraging look at a program finding its stride.

Friday: Aquinas 2, Lawrence Tech 2

Aquinas put itself in position to open the weekend with a road victory, building a two-goal lead before Lawrence Tech rallied for a 2-2 tie in Farmington Hills. Paisleigh Upshaw supplied the Saints' first-period offense, finishing a play assisted by Anna Sherman. The connection gave AQ a 1-0 advantage and an early foothold in the series. At the other end, Izzy Buckett kept the Blue Devils off the scoreboard throughout the opening period.

Neither team scored in the second, leaving the Saints with a one-goal edge heading into the final frame. Buckett's work in net helped AQ carry that lead through 40 minutes despite Lawrence Tech finishing the game with the advantage in shots. The Saints found some breathing room in the third when Caitlyn Wright scored off an assist from Carley Sedlar. Wright's finish pushed the lead to 2-0 and gave the Maroon and White goals from two different scorers.

Lawrence Tech answered late, cutting the deficit to one with 4:26 remaining. The Blue Devils then converted a power-play opportunity with 2:14 left to draw even. That late sequence left AQ with a tie after holding the lead for much of the contest. Buckett finished with 31 saves over 60 minutes, stopping 31 of the 33 shots she faced. Aquinas recorded 24 shots, with Lawrence Tech's goaltender turning aside 22.

Upshaw, Sherman, Wright and Sedlar each contributed a point, but the Saints had opportunities to generate more offense than the final score reflected. AQ could not capitalize on enough of those chances to put the game out of reach, leaving finishing as an important next step. Jax Graham impressed in the defensive zone and carried that influence up the ice, using confident puck handling to move into the attacking zone. Graham's two-way play helped connect the Saints' defensive work with their offensive opportunities. For AQ, the chances were an encouraging sign; converting more of them would be the difference between creating separation and leaving the door open.

Saturday: Aquinas 5, Lawrence Tech 0

The Saints brought Friday's lesson back to Southside Ice Arena and answered with a commanding 5-0 victory. AQ generated 67 shots while limiting Lawrence Tech to 13, taking control at both ends of the ice. Reyna Dominczak opened the scoring with an unassisted first-period goal, sending the Saints into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead for the second consecutive night.

This time, Aquinas built its separation with a three-goal second period. Carley Sedlar started the surge with a power-play goal off an assist from Joleena Manone. Dominczak followed with her second goal of the afternoon, also on the power play and also assisted by Manone. Those two conversions came 1:16 apart, stretching the Saints' advantage to 3-0. Manone then added an unassisted goal midway through the period, giving AQ a four-goal cushion and completing a three-point afternoon.

The Saints added one more in the third when Paisleigh Upshaw scored off an assist from Lorelei Weinrick. Upshaw's finish gave her a goal in each game of the series and completed the scoring. In net, Izzy Buckett and Kaylee Daigle combined to keep the Blue Devils scoreless. Buckett recorded eight saves in 30 minutes, while Daigle stopped five shots during her 30 minutes of action. AQ also kept Lawrence Tech off the board through four Saints penalties, complementing its two power-play goals with a strong penalty-killing performance.

Jax Graham again stood out with strong defensive-zone play and impressive control of the puck moving into the attack. Graham's ability to contribute at both ends added another dimension to an Aquinas performance that extended beyond the scoresheet. Even with five goals and 67 shots, the Saints left additional scoring opportunities unfinished. Creating those chances offered another encouraging sign of growth, while the missed opportunities reinforced that AQ still has room to sharpen its finishing. Saturday supplied a convincing result and a clear assignment for the next week: keep creating, then make more of those opportunities count.

Aquinas closed the weekend at 2-4-2 overall, while Lawrence Tech moved to 1-3-1. The Saints finished the series unbeaten, outscoring the Blue Devils 7-2.

Saints Snapshots

• The response matters: Friday's two-goal lead ended in a tie. Saturday's one-goal lead became a five-goal victory. AQ took a lesson from the opener and delivered a stronger finish in the rematch.
• Separation in the second: The Saints broke Saturday's game open with three second-period goals. Joleena Manone had a hand in all three, supplying two assists before adding a goal of her own.
• Impact beyond the scoresheet: Jax Graham delivered impressive two-way play throughout the series, combining strong work in the defensive zone with confident puck handling into the attack. Graham's contributions helped AQ turn defensive possessions into opportunities at the other end.
• Special teams deliver: After surrendering Friday's tying goal on the penalty kill, AQ kept Lawrence Tech scoreless through four Saints penalties Saturday and added two power-play goals.
• Protecting the finish: Izzy Buckett and Kaylee Daigle combined for Saturday's shutout, supported by an AQ effort that limited the Blue Devils to 13 shots. The Saints gave their offense room to work and their lead room to grow.

Coach's Comments

The weekend provided a tangible look at the progress taking shape under head coach Taelynn Otte. The Saints are beginning to turn her system and expectations into results, with Saturday's performance offering an encouraging example of the direction of the program.

"Our focus has been on getting better every game and every week, and this weekend gave us a chance to show what that looks like," Otte said. "Friday reminded us how important it is to finish, and I was proud of the way our players responded Saturday. We had contributions throughout the lineup, capitalized on our opportunities and supported both goaltenders. We're building confidence in our system and in one another, and the next step is bringing that same commitment into another week."

Up Next

The Saints will look to carry that momentum into Halloween weekend with a home-and-home series against the Davenport Panthers. AQ opens the matchup Friday, Oct. 30, at Patterson Ice Arena with an 8:30 p.m. puck drop before returning to Southside Ice Arena for a Halloween matinee Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m.

Visit AQSaints.com for complete coverage of Aquinas women's hockey and all other Saints sports.

It's a great day to be a Saint.