Buffs come one goal short of nationals: WWCHL playoffs recap
- Paxton Haines
- 17 hours ago
- 7 min read
The Colorado Buffaloes lost to the Grand Canyon Antelopes in overtime in the Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League championship game, 2-1.
CU won both of its games in pool play but lost in the rematch to the Antelopes in the final game before nationals, ending its season.
Game 1: Colorado 3, Grand Canyon 2 (OT)
The Buffaloes and Antelopes began the WWCHL playoffs against each other in pool play on Friday. GCU entered having won 12 of its last 13 games, most recently a series sweep over No. 9 Arizona State.
The Buffs found the net first, scoring six minutes into the first period. Forward Amelia Sowers nicely executed a dump-and-chase for herself to eventually get the puck to forward Abby Zahn. Zahn then threaded the needle between three defenders and went far-side with her backhand to beat GCU goaltender Annika Olson.
Colorado continued to apply pressure, accumulating 10 shots on goal in the first 13 minutes. Grand Canyon found a response with less than four minutes left in the first period when forwards Abigail Brigg and Haley Gray made a couple of nice passes to each other on a rush before Brigg buried it from above the left circle.
The Antelopes started the second period with lots of sustained pressure, forcing Buffs goaltender Shira Wein to make three stops in the span of a minute. CU had issues with clearing the zone, granting GCU prolonged time on offense.
However, the game flipped at the 12-minute mark when defenseman Zoe Dupuis batted down a pass at the GCU blue line and found forward Brianna Arens cutting behind her, who snapped it home on a one-time shot.
The rest of the second period saw both teams getting good chances at the net. Olson stopped CU multiple times on a power play, and the Lopes continued to pin the Buffs in their own end.
Grand Canyon continued to press down on the Buffs in the third. They killed two penalties and put seven shots on Wein in the first 11 minutes.
With two minutes remaining in regulation, Buffs forward Natalie Ewald finished a check that got called for a penalty. Thirty seconds into the ensuing power play, GCU defenseman Bridget Graybill took a shot from the point that snuck past Wein to tie the game.
3-on-3 overtime was nothing short of spectacular. It started with GCU defenseman Taylor Zahalka missing a wide-open net, followed by Buffs forward Mia Fiscelli colliding with Olson in a dash for the puck. Fiscelli got called for tripping, but Grand Canyon couldn’t cash in on the 4-on-3 power play despite multiple chances.
Colorado did an incredible job at clogging the shooting and passing lanes. Out of the box, Fiscelli had a wide-open shot but was stoned by Olson’s blocker.
With 30 seconds left in overtime, Buffs forwards Anna Masiello and Aleksa Caton kicked Lopes defenseman Elizabeth Ramsey off the puck behind her net. Two Antelopes came in to swarm Masiello, the puck holder, neglecting Caton wide open in front of the net. Masiello found Caton, who held it across the crease and elevated it over Olson to walk off an instant classic.
While much of the game was spent in their end, Colorado was exceptional at blocking shots. The Buffs laid their bodies on the line all game to prevent the puck from getting to Wein. The Antelopes lost the shot battle, 28-22, despite appearing to outplay the Buffs by the eye test.
It was only Grand Canyon’s second loss in its last 14 games.
The game was highlighted by unprecedented physicality for women’s ACHA hockey. The officials allowed both teams to play the body and finish checks. The Lopes were the ones initiating the hits early, but Colorado adjusted and kept up with the physicality as the game went on.
Game 2: Colorado 2, Utah 1 (OT)
Utah and Colorado entered Saturday’s game both with a win; Utah defeated Montana State 5-2 the night before. The winner would automatically clinch a spot in the conference championship.
The scoring began three minutes in when Masiello snuck the puck past Utah goalie Miranda de Antuñano from behind the goal line. It looked like Masiello was attempting a pass to a crashing Fiscelli, but it kicked off de Antuñano, who didn’t realize it got by her.
The first period ended 1-0, Buffs, as Colorado controlled play. De Antuñano had issues squeezing the puck with her glove, allowing second chances, but CU couldn’t capitalize.
Colorado started the second period without a shot on goal for the first seven minutes. Four minutes into the second period, the Buffs couldn’t get out of their own zone, leading to a Sonia Charman goal from the slot.
After two periods, the Buffs and Utes were tied at one. De Antuñano improved, stopping seven total open shots from Masiello and Fiscelli in the second.
The Buffs thought they found a goal six minutes into the third when Dupuis went coast-to-coast and took a wrister that de Antuñano couldn’t hold onto. De Antuñano reacted as if the puck squeaked past her, but after discussion, the officiating crew determined the puck never crossed the goal line. The Buffs captain pleaded her case in disbelief but was ultimately denied the goal.
Regulation ended tied at one, largely thanks to Wein and de Antuñano, who stopped seven and nine shots in the final frame, respectively.
Overtime opened with both teams trading a 2-on-1. Fiscelli rang one off the crossbar, and Utes forward Ashley Paterson put her chance into the chest of Wein.
The next shift, Utes forward Ariel Carlsten and defenseman Maddie Brent had a 2-on-0, being a step past Caton on defense. Carlsten passed it across to Wensink, who elevated the puck with her backhand, but Wein got over in time and denied the game-winner with the shaft of her stick.
A careless dump from Brent went the distance for icing, stranding the tired Utes on the ice. Buffs’ forward Abby Piatigorsky won the ensuing faceoff. She then used her body to evade a puck battle and left it for Dupuis, who cut past Brent and buried the overtime winner. Forward Rowan Nasty provided the screen that made de Antuñano react late to the puck. It was Zoe Dupuis’ fourth point in three games after coming off a 19-game point drought.
“It feels great,” Dupuis said after the game. “I’m glad I got to do it for this group and with this group.” She also laughed off her goal that was wiped off the board in the third period.
They didn’t know it at the time, but it would end up being the Utes’ last game of the season. Grand Canyon won their game on Saturday over Montana State, 7-1, which awarded them the goal differential tiebreaker over Utah to clinch the championship game.
WWCHL Championship: Grand Canyon 2, Colorado 1 (OT)
The Buffaloes and Antelopes met up for a rematch Sunday morning, where the winner claimed a spot in nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. It was their fourth meeting of the year.
Grand Canyon had to take the ice without their leading point-getter, Brigg, who couldn’t play.
The Lopes struck first less than five minutes in when forward Courtney Briggs rattled a turnaround shot off the post and in. It was Colorado’s first time trailing in a game this playoffs.
Colorado couldn’t find an answer for almost the entirety of two periods. Olson stood tall in net, turning away CU’s first 12 shots.
With two minutes left in the second period, Fiscelli blew past two backcheckers on her way to the right circle, where she flipped the puck top-shelf to tie the game. It was Fiscelli’s first goal of the playoffs, and 24th of the year.
“I’ve been waiting for some luck recently,” Fiscelli said between periods. “It felt really good to get one.”
Both teams had one goal and 12 shots each after 40 minutes. Grand Canyon gave the Buffs plenty of chances. Colorado had four power plays in the first two periods, but never found the right rhythm. The first unit, especially, couldn’t get set up.
Neither team could break the tie in the third. Both defenses jammed up the shooting lanes and forced one-and-done possessions. Only CU reached the 20-shot mark after 60 minutes.
One overtime couldn’t decide the game, either. Grand Canyon controlled play for most of the five-minute period. Wein made four big stops, and Fiscelli deflected a shot out of play on a 2-on-1.
Thirty seconds into the second overtime, Gray couldn’t reach around the post on a wraparound and missed a wide-open net. However, the forecheck of Zahalka got the puck off the stick of a Buffalo twice to prevent a breakout.
GCU forward Ava Johnson picked up a loose puck in the circle and ripped it short side to crown the Antelopes as back-to-back WWCHL champions. Some Buffs players looked on in tears as the Lopes threw their sticks into the air and dogpiled on Johnson.
Grand Canyon goaltender Annika Olson was named tournament MVP. She made 63 total saves and only gave up five goals in three games.
“It feels awesome,” Olson said during the trophy presentation. “I’m so excited to win. We worked really hard for this.”
Colorado’s season ended in heartbreak. Eleven seniors played their final game in black and gold. However, the future is bright for the Buffaloes. The first line will stay fully intact next year, and rookie skaters such as Abby Piatigorsky and Kieran Sullivan had incredible years. Wein will also be back between the pipes.
Ewald, Dupuis and Wein were named to the WWCHL all-tournament team.
Cover photo by Kainoa Hiatt/Sko Buffs Sports