The No. 1 Wisconsin women’s hockey team opened its season with a 6-2 victory over the St. Lawrence Saints at Appleton Arena on Friday. After falling behind by two goals in the first period, the Badgers rattled off six unanswered goals, powered by a four-point night from sophomore forward Charlotte Pieckenhagen and a multi-goal performance from captain Kelly Gorbatenko.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Rosalie Tremblay Impact: As the first of eight freshmen to score this season, Tremblay showed immediate special-teams utility by converting on a late-second-period power play.
Overcoming Early Defensive Lulls at Appleton Arena
The visiting Badgers faced an immediate tactical hurdle when the Saints capitalized on early defensive zone lapses to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Junior Finley McCarthy sparked the comeback late in the first period, converting off a feed from freshman Rosalie Tremblay to halve the deficit.
Captain Kelly Gorbatenko assessed the team’s slow start and subsequent recovery by noting, “It’s a great atmosphere and there’s a really loud crowd. I think we just had to settle in a little bit, get comfortable, make the first few mistakes and kind of get that out of the way.”
Special Teams Execution and Roster Depth
Wisconsin’s offensive explosion hinged on special-teams dominance and contributions throughout the lineup. With just 2:33 remaining in the second period, Tremblay delivered her first career NCAA goal during a Badger power play, taking a pass from McCarthy to make it 4-2. The sequence highlighted the immediate impact of Wisconsin’s incoming class, with Tremblay leading the charge as the first of eight freshmen to find the scoresheet this season.
Pieckenhagen orchestrated the attack from the wing, adding three helpers to her second-period goal to secure a career-best four-point evening. Captain Gorbatenko bookended the scoring dominance with her second goal of the night 14:40 left in the final twenty minutes of play, sealing the 6-2 advantage. The six unanswered tallies marked a rare offensive outburst reminiscent of the program’s dominant stretch against Merrimack on January 5, 2024.
| Metric | Wisconsin Badgers | St. Lawrence Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 6 | 2 |
| Saves (Goaltender) | 11 (Rhyah Stewart) | Not Reported |
| Season Record | 1-0-0 | Not Reported |
| Power Play Goals | 1 | Not Reported |
Season-Opening Precedent and Next Steps
Friday’s triumph marks the fourth year in a row that the Badgers have opened their campaign with a victory. Across those four season-opening fixtures, Wisconsin has outscored opponents by a 33-4 margin, illustrating remarkable consistency.
The quick turnaround features an immediate rematch. Wisconsin will face the Saints again on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Appleton Arena, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and audio broadcast via The Game 1070 AM as the Badgers look to sweep the weekend series.
