Nazareth Press Conference

ROCHESTER, NY – Junior Logan Marchese scored 4:33 into overtime to lift the #5-ranked women's hockey team 2-1 over #12 Wilkes in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Saturday at Rochester Ice Center. With the win, Nazareth advances to its first Frozen Four and will take on #2 Norwich in the semifinals on Friday, March 27 at 3 p.m CST. The Frozen Four will be hosted at the top overall seed University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

Quarterfinal Results
#5 Nazareth (26-1-1) defeats #12 Wilkes (25-2-1), 2-1 Overtime
#2 Norwich (26-2-0) defeats #7 Hamline (21-6-1), 1-0
#1 University of Wisconsin - River Falls (28-1-0) defeats #9 Williams (18-5-5), 1-0
#3 Amherst (21-2-6) defeats #15 Elmira (20-6-2), 3-0

How it Happened:

• It was a fairly quiet first period with no penalties and the Colonels holding a 9-6 shot advantage.
• Possibly the biggest moments of the period came in a :10 second sequence with seven minutes remaining when Mia Gonsalves made three huge saves to keep it scoreless.
• Nazareth's best opportunity came at the 5-minute mark when Lindsay Moses stole the puck in the offensive zone and had her shot just turned aside.
• In the second period, Nazareth had a flurry of three shots of their own, two from Amy Laskowski and one from Corsica Skibinski at the 3:35 mark, all of which were saved. On the third save, the Colonels got out on the break and scored the first goal of the game from Gianna Pacilio on a strong passing effort.
• Nazareth held an 18-12 shot advantage in the second period and went 0-1 on the power play.
• The action ramped up in the third period and the Golden Flyers finally got on the board with a shorthanded goal with 6:30 remaining. Meredith Boetcher stole the puck at the blue line and outskated two defenders to beat the goaltender for her 18^th of the season.
• Nazareth had two great chances to win the game late, the first from Laskowski with 1:37 remaining on a breakaway, but the shot was turned aside.
• The Golden Flyers almost ended the game in regulation on an excellent individual effort from Nikki Sharp who went coast-to-coast, firing a shot off the pipe with :11 seconds to go.
• Nazareth started the overtime period on the power after the Colonels took a penalty with :09 remaining in regulation. 
• The Golden Flyers were unable to capitalize at the start of the overtime, but Marchese lifted the Flyers at the 4:33 mark. A poke check at the blue line from Ella Mannila found the stick of Skibinski, who found a streaking Marchese down the right side. Marchese used a head of steam top skate past the defender and beat the Wilkes goaltender for the winner.

Game Notes:

• Gonsalves made a career-high 30 saves in the win.
• Nazareth is making its fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and second-straight in the NCAA Quarterfinals
• Each team came into the contest with only one loss – Nazareth to Elmira in the UCHC Championship Game and Wilkes to Lebanon Valley back in November.
• On Friday, Sophomore Amy Laskowksi was named one of seven finalists for the Laura Hurd Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III women's ice hockey player in the country. It is her second-straight year as a finalist. The winner will be announced the week of the Frozen Four.
• Wilkes was making its second-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament after falling in the first round against Colby in 2024-25. 

Up Next:
Nazareth will travel to Wisconsin River Falls to take on #2 Norwich in the NCAA semifinals on Friday, March 27.