SUPERIOR, Wis.--- The #5 seed Northland College Women's Hockey team opened the 2023 WIAC playoffs this evening in Superior, WI as they took on the #4 seed UW-Superior. The Jills scored three goals in the first period, two more in the second and hung on in the third period to take down UWS 5-3 in the opening round of the WIAC playoffs. 

Box Score 

Maddy Bloedel opened the scoring for the Jills, firing a shot just inside of the blue line that was redirected and found the back of the net just five minutes into tonight's contest to give the Jills the early 1-0 lead. UWS would respond minutes later with a shot from the point was redirected high above Northland goaltender Teagen Johnson and was tapped in, in front of the net to make it 1-1. With time winding down in the first, the Jills hammered home two more goals, coming off the sticks of Eliza DiNatale and Kate Holtz to give the Jills the 3-1 lead after the first. 

Halfway through the second period, the LumberJills extended their lead on the power play as Elle Black found the back of the net to make it 4-2 for the Jills. She was assisted by Holtz and Bloedel on the goal. Minutes later, UWS followed suit, scoring on the power play to make it 4-2. With time winding down in the period, the Jills added another goal once again off the stick of Maddy Bloedel, firing a shot from the blue line that found the back of the net to make it 5-2 for the Jills. 

The third period, UWS came firing on all cylinders, outshooting the LumberJills 30-3 but Senior goalie Teagen Johnson stood tall in net making save after save. UWS was able to make it 5-3 half way through the period but never really had another grade A scoring opportunity as the Jills defense did a great job of keeping the shots from the outside for Johnson to gobble up. UWS was able to create a power play late with minutes remaining but were unsuccessful getting anything past Johnson as the Jills would kill off the penalty and take the game 5-3 over UWS. 

Johnson finished the game with an incredible 65 saves in tonight's win for the Jills. 

Tonight's win was the first WIAC playoff victory for the Jills in program history.  

The Jills take on the #1 seed- UW-River Falls this Friday and Saturday in River Falls, WI. Game time both nights are set for 7:00pm. 

Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.