University of St. Thomas Athletics
Franklin Pierce
Game Notes -- Women's Hockey looks to bounce back against non-conference opponent Franklin Pierce
10/13/2022 9:12:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Women's Hockey opens its 20th season of home ice at the Saint Thomas Ice Arena on Friday against non-conference opponent Franklin Pierce, their first meeting in school history.
St. Thomas faces off against the Franklin Pierce Ravens, a Division I Independent that competes in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance, at 3 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The Tommies will play their first home games of the 2022-23 season after beginning their WCHA schedule with two losses at Wisconsin last weekend.
The Ravens began their season schedule against No. 14/15 Boston College on Sept. 24 with a 4-1 loss against the Eagles, their only game of record this season. They have not been in official action on the ice in 20 days, but did compete in an exhibition Oct. 1, taking down New Brunswick 3-1. Eleven of their 23 rostered players are from Minnesota.
The Toms debuted eight new faces in their weekend series with the Badgers. Among the greatest contributors were:
- Gabby Billing, a transfer from Dartmouth, scored her first goal for the Tommies and the 15th of her career.
- Maggie Malecha, a first year out of Northfield, Minn., stopped 15 Wisconsin shots and allowed just one power play goal in her collegiate debut.
No. 5 Wisconsin protected La Bahn
Wisconsin scored five goals on Friday from four different players and nine goals on Saturday from eight skaters. The Badgers limited the Tommies to just 29 shots on goal for the weekend in their 5-0 and 9-1 WCHA victories.
The Tommies' lone goal came in the second period on the power play from Gabby Billing assisting on the play were Nicole Vallario and Jenna Hartung. The tally was the first opposing goal surrendered at La Bahn in 15 periods dating back to last season.
Saskia Maurer recorded 38 saves in her game one start, including 17 in the first period. Badger goalie, Cami Kronish, saved nine Tommie shots and got out of game one with a shutout, the second of her career.
Alexa Dobchuk stopped 22-of-30 shots faced in game two and was relieved in the third period by Maggie Malecha.
Next Level, Same Game
Last weekend Maggie Malecha played 20 minutes for the Tommies against No. 5 ranked Wisconsin. She racked up 15 saves and allowed just one goal on a Badger power play in her first collegiate appearance.
Before coming to St. Thomas, Maggie played for Northfield High School. Maggie helped the Raiders to a 19-7-3 overall record, a Section 1AA championship and an appearance in the state tournament. She finished her senior season with a .938 save percentage and a 1.66 goals-against average.
At the end of the 2021-22 season, Maggie was named the Minnesota Senior Goaltender of the Year and received the Herb Brooks Award.
Series History
The Tommies have never faced off against the Ravens.
However, both Lotti Odnoga and Gabby Billing faced Franklin Pierce in a 7-0 victory in December of last season while competing for Dartmouth. Billing contributed an assist on the seventh and final goal of the game.
This will be the first time in school history that Franklin Pierce is taking to the ice opposed by a WCHA foe.
Last Season
The Purple look to improve on last season's 5-27-1 record. Seventeen of those losses came against four WCHA opponents that advanced to the 11-team national tournament. The Tommies lost seven games by one- or two-goal margins.
Two of the three Tommies WCHA victories came in games against St. Cloud State both by 3-2 scores. The other victory came 2-1 against Bemidji State.
The team returns all eight of their top point-scorers from 2021-22: Abby Promersberger (13), Allie Monrean (12), Lauren Stenslie (10), Anna Solheim (10), Luci Bianchi (9), Maddy Clough (8), Nicole Vallario (7), and Maija Almich (7).
Familiar faces Saskia Maurer and Alexa Dobchuk return between the pipes for the 2022-23 season. Both goalies accounted for all recorded starts in the 2021-22 season.
World Class Talent
Lotti Odnoga (Hungarian National Team) joined her new Tommie teammates Nicole Vallario and Saskia Maurer (Swiss National Team) as competitors in the recent 10-team Women's World Championships in Denmark.
