Following their best season since 2019 with an 18–8 record, the Pipers kicked off the 2024 season with a two game series against Lawrence University. The opening period of the first game went by without a goal from either program.
The second period quickly was off to a different start with a goal just 28 seconds in with an even strength goal from sophomore Annabel Mehta for the Pipers’ first goal of the season.
That would not be all from the Pipers in that game but it was all that would be needed in a 6–0 shutout victory. The game was an absolute defensive masterpiece, with only four shots allowed in the entire game and zero in the first period; Lawrence was outmatched from the very start.
Down on the other side of the rink the offense was able to set a program record with 73 total shots across the game.
The second game of the series was no different than the first, with the Pipers winning 8–1. Senior Morgan Wohlers opened up the scoring with a goal 3:57 into the first period with senior Cailey Mclaughlin and fifth-year Emme Nelson also scoring in the first to go up 3–0 before the intermission.
Nelson was able to score again late in the second period which was quickly answered by the first goal of the series for Lawrence to make it a 4–1 game. Before the third ended the Pipers ran the score up 8–1 to earn a series sweep in their first of the season. The shot total again was something out of a video game with 69 in the second matchup and 142 in the series.
Following the successful weekend the program traveled up to Superior for a one game face off against UW-Superior, in which they fell 3–1 in.
The game started off with a 2–0 deficit for the Pipers where they then answered early in the third thanks to a goal from sophomore Abigail Chamerick to make it 2–1. Unfortunately, they could not find the back of the goal again in the game and an empty net goal sealed it for the Yellowjackets.
The Pipers will next face off against Saint Mary’s this weekend, with the first game being hosted in Winona on Nov. 15 and game two taking place the next night at Tria Rink.