The first graduating class of the Lawrence women’s hockey team was recognized and celebrated in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 20 before the team went on to put up a 4-2 victory over the University of Dubuque.
The Saturday win completed a sweep of the Dubuque Spartans over the weekend, following a hard-fought 1-0 win on Friday, which was won thanks to a goal scored by senior Lauren Askenazy—her fourth of the season—with just over a minute remaining in regulation. With those back-to-back wins, the team has now matched their previous season-best win record, with seven games still remaining in the regular season.
The Vikings went on to follow up that game with another win the next day, this time with a score of 4-2. The team’s confidence was clear at the Saturday afternoon matinee game, and they opened scoring much earlier than the previous night, with a goal by junior Sofia Alvarez in the first period. Alvarez was assisted by seniors Gigi Wood and captain Sydney Seeley.
Besides assisting on a goal, goaltender Seeley stopped 37 shots while in net.
Dubuque responded less than 10 seconds later with a goal of their own, but the Vikings’ momentum didn’t waver, as they later scored two back-to-back goals in the second, from first-year Valeria Ansoleaga and senior captain Delaney Kingsland, who, earlier in the season, scored the program’s first-ever hat trick. Kingsland had the sole assist on Ansoleaga’s goal, while senior captain Lauren Askenazy and first-year Evelyn Pryadkin assisted Kingsland’s power-play goal.
The second Spartans goal also came in the second period, but they were unable to hold off the Vikings. Senior Lindsey Gulliksen scored the team’s fourth goal, assisted by Alvarez and fellow junior Aislinn O’Hagan, in the third period.
The Vikings’ next home games will be Feb. 2 and 3 against Trine University.