WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's ice hockey team scored two unanswered goals in the third period to claim the inaugural Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Women's Ice Hockey Championship over No. 2 seed Arcadia University 2-1 at the Toyota SportsPlex Saturday afternoon.

This marks the first conference title in the program's seven-year history, guaranteeing them a spot in the NCAA National Championship Tournament.

Karahkwenhawe White opened the scoring for Arcadia in the first period, a lead they would hold for the first 40 minutes of action. Goaltender Audrey Milne (London, ON) made a dazzling split-legged save in the second period to keep the game 1-0.

Haylee Bouchard (Sioux Lookout, ON) kick-started the Wilkes offense in the third period, scoring 26 seconds into the period to tie the game. With roughly 12 minutes to play, Ainsley Wescott (Saco, ME/) capitalized on a scramble in front of the Arcadia net to put home what would be the game-winning goal. From there, the Colonel defense held strong with the help of key late-game saves by Milne to claim their first-ever conference championship.

Wilkes fired off 15 shots in the final period, the most by either team in a single period in the contest.

Milne was named the first-ever MAC Championship MVP saving 20 shots for a 95% save rate and only allowing one goal. Bouchard and Wescott were the team's goal scorers, while Jordan Ferry (Bohemia, NY) led the team with six shots. Ferry, Gianna Pacilio (Franklinville, NJ), and Iida Laitinen (Jyväskylä, Finland) led the way from the faceoff circle with five wins each.

White led Arcadia with their lone goal and six total shots, while Ariel Wilson won a team-high nine faceoffs. In goal, Hannah Bergeron made 29 saves.

The Colonels will now compete in their first-ever NCAA Tournament, kicking off on Saturday, March 15 with an opponent yet to be named.