UW-River Falls Picked To Capture Women’s Ice Hockey Title

MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the two-time defending conference champion, has been picked to the capture the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s ice hockey championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

 

The Falcons, who enter the 2022-23 campaign ranked No. 5 in the DCU/USCHO.com NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, posted their conference-best eighth first-place finish last season and won the WIAC Tournament (O’Brien Cup) for the seventh time. UW-River Falls’ 27 victories a season ago established a program record and the Falcons received a NCAA bid for the 13th time in program archives. UW-River Falls also put together a conference-best 20-game winning streak. The Falcons bring back four All-WIAC first team honorees from last season, including Abigail Stow, who is a four-time All-WIAC first team performer.

 

UW-Eau Claire, ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com poll, owns one regular-season championship and a pair of O’Brien Cup trophies. The Blugolds welcome back three All-WIAC performers from a year ago – Stephanie Martin, Samantha Scherling and Hallie Sheridan.

 

UW-River Falls is followed in the predictions by: UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Superior; and Northland College.

 

All five teams will qualify for the WIAC Tournament (O’Brien Cup), which begins Feb. 21 with a first round game between the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. The first-round winner will advance to the semifinals Feb. 24-25 against the No. 1 seed, while the No. 2 seed and No. 3 seed will square off in the other semifinal. The semifinal winners will meet for the…