Buffs rolling in WWCHL: Women’s hockey midseason checkpoint

Colorado Buffaloes women's hockey has had a special start to the season with help from defender Sophie O'Brien. (Photo by Fidel Gonzales/Sko Buffs Sports)

The going is good for Colorado Buffaloes women’s club hockey.

Halfway through the regular season, the Buffaloes are 7-4-1-1 and in first place in the Women’s Western Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL) at 16 points.

The Buffs opened the season with three emphatic victories over Denver and Wyoming, led by forward Amelia Sowers’ five goals in three games. Goaltender Zoe Watson made 66 combined saves on 67 total shots.

On Oct. 20, Colorado took the ice at the CU Rec Center for the first time this season and exhilarated a packed crowd with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Michigan State Spartans. The game featured a brilliant Sophie O’Brien shot between her legs to seal the win after regulation.

The Buffaloes are undefeated in their home games thus far, following up the shootout thriller with two blowout wins over the Colorado State Rams. The series was headlined by a four-goal performance from forward Mia Fiscelli on Oct. 24.

Colorado dropped two of three in its last road trip but will be home for 11 of its last 14 games.

As defending division winners, Colorado sits atop the standings with 16 points, dethroning the Grand Canyon Antelopes last month.

The WWCHL is tight this year. Colorado holds onto a one-game lead over Colorado State. Utah, Montana State and Grand Canyon, all close behind with multiple games in hand.

The Buffs are once again led this season by their powerhouse first-line forwards. The top line owns CU’s top three spots in points.

Colorado Buffaloes forward Mia Fiscelli is thriving as a junior, leading the team in 13 points in 12 games played. (Fidel Gonzales/Sko Buffs Sports)

Fiscelli leads the team in goals and points with 13 and 17, respectively. Natalie Ewald, centering the first line, has seven goals and seven assists. Their linemate, Anna Masiello, has four goals and seven assists.

Nicknamed the Dynamic Duo, Fiscelli and Ewald are on pace to each break their career-high point totals.

Goaltending has been solid for the Buffaloes through 13 games. In her first season in black and gold, Shira Wein had not lost in regulation until a rematch with Michigan State in East Lansing on Nov. 9.

New to the team, Wein watched from the bench as Watson started the first four games. In her first start, Wein stopped 43 shots in an overtime loss to the Miami Redhawks. But she cemented her spot as the starter between the pipes with a 36-save night in the home opener.

Wein is 5-1-1 in starts with a 0.937 save percentage, 1.97 goals against average and 177 total saves.

This combination of elite scorers and dependable goaltending has the Buffs first in the WWCHL in goals scored and second in goal differential.

Colorado will host its next eight games at the CU Rec Center. The first-place Buffs face off this weekend in a division series against Grand Canyon. They play on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. MT, streamed live on Sko Buffs Sports.