Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas College women's hockey team battled through a tough weekend series against Michigan State on Feb. 13–14, highlighted by Friday night's Senior Night celebration honoring four Saints for their dedication and impact on the program. While the final scores didn't fall in Aquinas' favor, the Saints showed resilience and continued competing hard as the regular season came to its conclusion.
Aquinas 1, Michigan State 10 (Friday – Senior Night)
Michigan State jumped out to an early lead Friday, netting four first-period goals to seize momentum. The Spartans added two more in the second period and opened the third with another tally before Aquinas broke through late.
At the 13:07 mark of the third period, Paige Ike found the back of the net for the Saints' lone goal of the contest. Ellie Wallace and Anna Sherman were credited with assists on the play, helping Aquinas get on the board on Senior Night. Michigan State closed the game with three additional goals to secure the 10-1 final.
Freshman goaltender Lila Dial turned in a determined performance in net, facing 85 shots over 60 minutes of action while anchoring the Saints' defensive effort under constant pressure.
Aquinas 1, Michigan State 9 (Saturday)
Similar to Friday's match up, Michigan State built an early advantage Saturday, scoring three first-period goals in a penalty-free opening frame.
The Spartans added five goals in the second period, including one on the power play. Aquinas recorded four penalty minutes in the period, while Michigan State had one. In the third, the Saints found some offensive momentum when Kate Kramm scored at the 11:27 mark, assisted by Anna Castle. Michigan State added one final goal to make it 9-1.
Freshman Trista Tracy started in goal for Aquinas and faced a career-high 70 shots. Playing all 60 minutes, Tracy recorded an .871 save percentage.
Coaches Comments
"Senior Night is always emotional because it's about more than just the scoreboard , it's about the commitment these players have made to our program. I'm incredibly proud of our seniors and the way our team continued to compete all weekend. Even in tough moments, we're building resilience, and that's something that will carry us forward." said Alyssa Exline
By the Numbers (Weekend)
