Women’s Hockey Set to Host Ohio State

By Matthew Taylor Last updated Oct 3, 2024

Alexia Cote ’28 got her career started in style with a goal against Merrimack. PHOTO CREDIT: CA HILL, SAINTS ATHLETICS

Last year, the St. Lawrence University women’s hockey team had a phenomenal season, finishing with a 28-11 overall record, going 18-4 in the ECAC and 19-1 at home. They also won 15 different games against teams ranked in the top 15 in the nation, an impressive mark that demonstrates their strength of schedule. Their season ended with a 4-0 loss to the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. In this season, which is the program’s 50^th, the Saints hope to carry the momentum from last year into this one and have another impressive season.

St. Lawrence returns numerous important players from last year, including Abby Hustler ’25, who led the team in points with 24 goals and 31 assists, and was named Second-Team All-ECAC. Another returner is Anna Segedi ‘GS, who totaled 39 points with 18 goals and 21 assists. Additionally, starting goalie and Olympian Emma-Sofie Nordstrom ’26, who was Second-Team All-ECAC and last year had a .931 save percentage.

After starting their season with a resounding 3-0 win over Merrimack, the 8^th ranked Saints will host 4^th ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes in a two-game series this weekend at Appleton Arena in Canton, New York.

Against Merrimack, three different Saints scored goals, and Nordstrom had 24 saves and notched a shutout in goal. Alexia Cote ’28 scored the team’s first goal of the season, and her first goal for the Scarlet and Brown, with a shot into the back of the net midway through the first period. Aly McLeod ‘GS doubled the Saints lead in the third period, and Segedi sealed the win with an empty netter in the final minutes.

Their next two games against the Ohio State will be an important test for the Saints, as the Buckeyes are the defending NCAA National Champions and are looking to repeat in 2024-25. Ohio State has cemented themselves as a women’s hockey powerhouse in recent years. After not making the NCAA Tournament in 19 of their first 20 years as a program from 1999-2019, they have made three consecutive national championship games from 2022-2024 and won it all in 2022 and 2024.

Additionally, the Buckeyes have won six straight games against St. Lawrence dating back to 2018, including two lopsided victories last season. This two game series will be a great early season test for the Saints. Iff they can play competitive with the Buckeyes, it will be a great sign for the team going forward through the rest of the season.

Lastly, as I stated earlier in the article, this game will be at home, and the Saints were 19-1 last year in Appleton Arena, showing the importance of our home field advantage. Therefore, if you are free this Friday at 6 p.m. and/or this Saturday at 3 p.m., come cheer the Saints on in this exciting matchup.