FRISCO, TX - The American Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association hosts the 2019 National Tournament, with a best of three series featuring No. 2 Adrian College and No. 7 McKendree University. The first game is set to take place at the Comerica Center on Wednesday, March 27 with a puck drop time of 4 pm. Game two will also be at the Comerica Center on Thursday, March 28 at 4 pm. If needed, a game three will be play on Friday, March 29 at the Comerica Center, 4 pm puck drop.

BULLDOG BUSINESS

Adrian College has had a busy season, winning the CCWHA regular season as well as taking home the league playoff tournament title. At 22-3-1 the Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, after holding the No. 1 spot for eleven weeks throughout the season. Kaillie Hardy, the top scorer for Adrian, has 34 points (14g, 20a) in 21 games for 2018-19. Huntyr Bosher has put up 25 points (12g, 13a) in her first season for Adrian. Bosher has tallied two power play goals and a single game-winner in 25 games. Brittany Levasseur, one of four Adrian College U.S. National University Team members, has racked up 23 points (14g, 9a) in her junior season. Levasseur leads the Bulldogs in power play goals with five, and in game-winning-goals with four. Dana Colombo, a second team 2018-19 All-American, earned a 17-3-1 record with seven shutouts and 381 total saves in her 21 games. Kalysta Coulter has been in net for Adrian for four games grabbing four wis. Coulter has notched three shutouts on 73 saves. Tianna Lavalle is currently 1-0 with eight saves between the pipes.

In their last bout on the ice, Adrian took on Michigan State in the CCWHA playoff championship title game, where the Bulldogs took home the win with a 2-0 win. Celina Clark tallied the game-winning goal for Adrian before Nicole Paradis secured the win with a second goal for Adrian. Colombo was in net to complete the shutout with 15 total saves, while Tanya Candido, Erika Mcdonald, Hardy and Bosher all were credited with helpers in the 2-0 win.

BEARCATS BUZZ

McKendree begins their first National Tournament experience after going 16-10 during the regular season. Dakota Peterson leads the Bearcats with 25 points (17g, 8a). In Peterson’s 25 games she has put in six power play goals and three game-winners to also lead McKendree. Lara Wentz has gathered 20 points (9g, 11a) in 26 games for the 2018-19 season. Callie Hoadley finishes out the top point leaders with 19 points (12g, 7a). Hoadley has grabbed two game-winning goals and a single short-handed goal this season. Naomi Leasck is 6-7 after making 412 saves in 13 games. Jazmin Malinowski, McKendree’s first U.S. National University Team member, has earned a 10-3 record with 281 saves. Malinowski has put up seven shutouts this season, while Leasck has gained two shutouts.

McKendree faced off with Lindenwood-Belleville before making their way to the National Tournament. The Lynx took the win, 4-1, with Leasck in net making 32 saves on 36 shots, while Wentz grabbed the lone Bearcat goal.

ABOUT THE SERIES

During the 2018-19 regular season, these two met for a two-game series, with the Bulldogs coming out on top with two wins. The Bearcats held Adrian to just a single goal in game one, with Paradis grabbing the game-winner. Colombo stopped all 17 shots on net while Malinowski was in net for McKendree with 18 saves on 19 shots. Game two saw Adrian leaving with the win again, but another one goal game between the two. A 3-2 win had Colombo in net again for Adrian, who picked up 13 saves on 15 shots. Freya Holferty picked up a goal as well as Kelly Rae Zdan and Leah Williams to give Adrian the sweep. Leasck was between the pipes for the Bearcats with 42 saves. Peterson and Alyssa Albee put in the goals on the at the time No. 1 team in the country, while Wentz and Hoadley each grabbed an assist.

Since the 2016-17 season the Bulldogs and the Bearcats have played six times, with Adrian leading the series 6-0.

PAST NATIONALS APPEARANCES

The Adrian Bulldogs have been a prominent figure at the National Tournament since 2016. Although the Bulldogs were at the 2015 tournament, they did not advance from pool play after finishing 1-2-1 with opponents including the University of Michigan, Miami University, University of Minnesota, and Liberty University. Returning for the 2016 National Tournament, Adrian College went 3-0 in pool play, taking down University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island and Miami University. Sam Fortune found a goal during pool play, and Kirsten LaBelle (1g, 1a), Hardy (2g, 2a) and Paradis (1g, 2a) also put up points. The Bulldogs would meet up with fellow CCWHA member, Grand Valley State in the semi-finals. After a fast-paced game, the Lakers would take the win 2-1 to send Adrian home. The 2017 National Tournament, with the updated format, had Adrian College set against another CCWHA team, Michigan State University in a best-of-three series. The Spartans would get a single win, but Adrian would ultimately get the two wins needed to move to the semi-finals. During the first round Paradis (2g, 5a), Hardy (1g, 2a), Levasseur (1g, 1a), Kyleen Wilson (1a), Jessica Harrison (1a), and Taylor Murcek (1a) all helped the Bulldogs advance. In the semi-finals, Adrian took a loss for the second year in a row, this time to yet another CCWHA team, Miami University, 5-3. Paradis and Murcek would tally goals for Adrian. Last year, Adrian would advance through the first round, this time taking down University of Massachusetts with two back-to-back wins. Hardy (2g), Fortune (1g, 1a), Paradis (2a), Murcek (1a) and Olivia Ziemba (2g) were the Bulldogs with points in round one. In the semi-final game, Adrian faced off with Miami University for the second year in a row, this time they emerged victorious with a 1-0 win. Paradis had the victory goal with an assist from Hardy to move the Bulldogs to the National Championship game. The Flames of Liberty University was there to meet Adrian, and they would take home the title 2-1 to end Adrian’s National Tournament journey.

McKendree University will have their first National Tournament appearance in Frisco, TX.