The 2024 NCAA women’s hockey tournament field of 11 teams has been announced. The Whittemore Center in Durham, New Hampshire will host the Frozen Four on March 22 and 24.
The final two teams standing in the previous season were Ohio State and Wisconsin, the top two seeds; the Badgers defeated the Buckeyes 1-0 to win the national championship. Together, the teams have won in the last four NCAA tournaments; the Buckeyes won it all in 2022, while the Badgers won in 2023, 2021, and 2019. (The contest was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.)
The five conference winners—from the CHA, ECAC, Hockey East, NEWHA, and WCHA—as well as six at-large teams, chosen by PairWise, make up the NCAA field. The other six teams will play on March 14; the top five seeds will receive a bye in the first round. The top four seeded will host the regional finals on March 16.
ESPN college hockey analyst Paige Capistran breaks down all 11 teams in the field and highlights players to watch to get you ready for all the excitement. Capistran selects the Frozen Four, as does fellow ESPN analyst Angela Ruggiero.
Schedule
First round
March 14
- No. 8 Minnesota Duluth vs. No. 9 UConn, 7 p.m.
- No. 6 Cornell vs. No. 11 Stonehill, 7 p.m.
- No. 7 St. Lawrence vs. No. 10 Penn State, 8 p.m.
Regional finals
March 16
- No. 5 Minnesota at No. 4 Clarkson, 3 p.m.
- Cornell/Stonehill winner at No. 3 Colgate, 3 p.m.
- St. Lawrence/Penn State winner at No. 2 Wisconsin, 3 p.m.
- UMD/UConn winner at No. 1 Ohio State, 4 p.m.
Frozen Four
at Durham, New Hampshire
- National semifinals, March 22, 4 and 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Championship, March 24, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
The field
Ohio State (32-4-0)
- PairWise ranking: 1
- How Buckeyes got in: At-large bid
Numbers to know: The Buckeyes rank seventh in defense (1.29 goals allowed per game) and lead the nation in offense (5.26 goals per game). With a 0.96 goals-against average, Raygan Kirk leads the nation, and Ohio State’s balanced assault, paced by Hannah Bilka (20 goals, 25 assists, 45 points) and Jennifer Gardiner (18-26-44), boasts 14 players with at least 20 points.
Paige Capistran’s Opinion: Ohio State plays a complete team game. The Buckeyes have a roster full of talent and a very competitive roster. Transfers Birka and Kayla Barnes made an immediate impact, bringing varsity experience to an already solid squad. Ohio State has all the resources to win its second national championship.
Wisconsin (33-5-0)
- Pairwise Ranking: 2
- How the Badgers got in: WCHA tournament champions
Numbers to know: Wisconsin has two of the top five players in the nation in points per game. There are three: Kirsten Sims (1.97), Casey O’Brien (1.82), and Britta Karl (1.61). Sims, the WCHA Player of the Year, has scored multiple points in 23 of 36 games this season, ranking second in the nation with eight goals.
Capistran’s Opinion: Wisconsin started the NCAA Tournament on a strong note by defeating Ohio State in his WCHA championship game. Linemates O’Brien and Sims are both Patty Kazmaier Top 10 finalists and have undeniable chemistry. Caroline Harvey had a strong showing last season, scoring the winning goal in overtime against Minnesota in the national semifinals. They expect her to be a weapon on the blue line again.
Colgate (31-6-1)
- Pairwise Ranking: 3
- How the Raiders come in: ECAC Tournament Champions
Numbers to know: Colgate ranks third nationally in offense (4.83 per game) Goals, 2 or more goals) 4th). (Cornell University), tied for second in defense (1.28 goals allowed per game).
Capistran’s Opinion: Special teams are often involved in postseason games, and the Raiders took advantage of power play opportunities, and he led the nation with 43 points. Colgate’s offensive excellence was led by Top 10 finalists Patty Kaz and Daniel Serdachny (22-39-61). Serdachny is one of the most dangerous threats in the country, so Colgate’s opponents can’t lose track of where she is on the ice. Kristina Kartonkova was also a superstar leading the Raiders, scoring 55 points.
Clarkson (32-4-2)
- Pairwise Ranking: 4
- How the Knights will play: Total bid
Numbers to know: Clarkson leads the country in defense (1.14 goals per game); Best player in penalty shootouts (91.4%). Senior Michelle Pasiechnik is one of three finalists for the National Goalie of the Year award with a 1.31 GAA, .943 save percentage and 24 wins. The Knights won three national titles (2014, 2017, 2018).
Capistran’s Opinion: The Golden Knights have a solid defense thanks to Pasiechnik, and with a hot goaltender, anything can happen during the tournament. Clarkson and the outstanding defensive duo of Nicole Gosling and Hailey Wynn lead the team in scoring and are playing with a new level of confidence this season. Overall, Clarkson has a strong and capable lineup.
Minnesota (27-9-2)
- Pairwise Ranking: 5
- How the Gophers got in: Total bid
Numbers to know: Minnesota has played 16 games against NCAA Tournament teams, and it’s a tough battle continues. They are 7-8-1 in those games, with all eight losses coming against either Ohio State or Wisconsin, with four of those losses coming in overtime. The Gophers are seeking his seventh NCAA title and first since 2016.
Capistran’s Opinion: Minnesota was eight seconds away from defeating Wisconsin in his WCHA semifinals when the Badgers went 0-for-his on a 3-0 victory in overtime. Despite the loss, Minnesota is playing some great hockey early in the tournament. The Gophers have the highest power play success rate (37%) in the nation, led by Olympian Abby Murphy (13 power play goals).
Cornell (24-7-1)
- Pairwise Ranking: 6
- How the Big Red gets in: Total bid
Numbers to know: Senior Izzy Daniel, the ECAC Player of the Year, will play 1 game. Ranked in World Land with 1.72 points per game (20 goals, 35 assists). Newcomer Karel Prefontaine (11 goals, 11 assists) has gained momentum since being promoted to the top group.
Capistran’s take: Cornell stepped up its game in the second half of the season. The Big Red plays as a cohesive unit and receives contributions from all sides of the lineup. Daniel, a Patty Kaz top-10 finalist, will lead the way offensively, while freshman goaltender Annelise Bergman has adjusted well to the college game and really found her rhythm over the past six weeks.
St. Lawrence (27-10-0)
- Pairwise rankings: 7
- How the Saints get in: Total bid
Numbers to know: St. Lawrence has players who rank in the top 10 in the nation in points per game There are 2 people. Abby Hassler (1.49) and Julia Gosling (1.46) game. Emma Sophie Nordstrom (.930 saves) had a solid performance in net, including his 41 save win over Yale in the ECAC playoffs.
Capistran’s Opinion: The Saints have proven they can beat any team in his tough ECAC and will carry that confidence into the tournament. The St. Lawrence has several offensive weapons up front, including Hassler, Gosling and Anna Szegedi. Transfer Mae Batherson was named to the All-ECAC First Team and led the Saints’ dangerous power play (31.4%).
Minnesota Duluth (20-13-4)
- Pairwise ranking: 8
- How the Bulldogs got in: Total bid
Numbers to know: Hailey MacLeod, a sophomore, and Eve Gascon, a freshman, make up Minnesota Duluth’s finest goaltender combo in the entire country. With a combined 12 shutouts, MacLeod has the best save % in the country at.954, followed by Gascon in fourth place at.951. The latest of the Bulldogs’ five national championships was obtained in 2010.
Capistran’s Opinion: The Bulldogs’ rotation of McLeod and Gascon has an advantage between the pipes. Defense is the most important part of the game in the postseason, and Minnesota Duluth has it.
UW (25-7-5)
- Pairwise Ranking: 10
- How the Huskies got there: Hockey East Tournament Champions
Numbers to know: UW ranks second nationally in defense; They are allowing 1.28 goals per game. Junior goaltender Tia Chung hasn’t lost in regulation since Jan. 6 against Minnesota and has allowed just four total goals (including three shutouts) in his last six starts. Chan made 38 saves in an overtime win over Northeastern in the Hockey East final.
Capistran Opinion: Connecticut dominated conference play this season, winning Hockey East’s first championship. An experienced team operates the system perfectly and protects against Chang well. Senior Jada Habisch stepped up this season as she was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star. If the Huskies make it this postseason, it will be because of their defense.
Penn State (12/22/3)
- Pairwise Rankings: 13
- How the Nittany Lions Enter: CHA Tournament Champions
Numbers to Know: Penn State’s Tessa Jannecke hits 607 in faceoff games He turned heads with 100 faceoff wins – more than anyone else in the country – and a winning percentage of 65.6. Sophomore Katie Desa posted two shutout wins in the CHA tournament, including a 1-0 win over Mercyhurst in the title game.
Capistran’s opinion: The Nittany Lions are his second consecutive CHA champion. Jannecke, the CHA Player of the Year and a Patty Kaz Top 10 finalist, will lead the way. Nittany Lions opponents will have to contain Janecke to eliminate Penn State. Penn State has faced adversity since starting goaltender Josey Bosin had his season suspended with an injury in mid-January, but Desa has made great strides.
Stonehill (21-15-2)
- Pairwise Ranking: 30
- How the Skyhawks come in: NEWHA Tournament Champion
Numbers to know: Second-year Stonehill has two overtimes in games. He wins the match and makes his first appearance. NCAA goes to NEWHA semifinals and finals. After starting the season with a 1-6 record and entering December with a 7-11 record, the Skyhawks turned things around and entered the tournament on an eight-game winning streak, their longest winning streak.
Capistran’s Opinion: The Skyhawks are playing their best hockey at the perfect time. The NEWHA champion competes hard and employs coach Lee J. Mirasolo’s system. Sophomore Alexis Petford (15.19.34) leads the team in scoring for his second straight year. Stonehill plays like a team with nothing to lose.
Players to Watch
Danielle Serdachny, Colgate: Serdachny is one of the most talented offensive players in the NCAA.
Izzy Daniel, Cornell: The ECAC Player of the Year is not only an offensive weapon, but also a 200-footer.
Abbey Murphy, Minnesota: Murphy is the ultimate competitor and has a nose for the net.
Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin: The only defenseman among Patty Kaz’s top 10 finalists, Harvey is a threat every time he touches the ice.
Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin: The game-winning goal in last year’s national championship game gave Sims confidence and she continues to perform well against the Badgers.
Frozen Four picks
Capistran:
- Ohio State. The Buckeyes have a bruised shoulder after losing in the WCHA finals, but they have something to prove.
- Wisconsin. The Badgers look to build on their momentum in the WCHA Championship.
- Clarkson. The Golden Knights’ depth and defense will take them far.
- Minnesota. The Gophers played a close game against Wisconsin in the WCHA semifinals, proving they can compete with anyone.
Ruggiero:
- Wisconsin. The defending champions, who have three Patty Kaz finalists on their team, are making moves at the right time.
- Ohio State. The Buckeyes have a talented team, including graduate student Kayla Burns, who can get scoring from a variety of players.
- Colgate. The Raiders, seeking their fourth consecutive ECAC championship, are fueled by the dominant play of conference Freshman of the Year Emma Pais and forward Daniel Serdachny.
- Minnesota. The Gophers, led by junior Abby Murphy, know how to win big tournaments and will be looking for revenge after losing to Wisconsin in the WCHA semifinals.
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