WATERBURY, Conn. (Interstat) — Madison Bowtell stopped all 15 shots she faced, and Lindenwood opened its women’s NCAA Division I hockey season with a 5-0 victory over Post on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Post. The visiting Lions scored in every period and never trailed, while the homestanding Eagles were held without a goal in front of an announced crowd of 150.

Lindenwood improved to 1-0 with the win. Post dropped to 0-1. The Lions controlled play from the opening minutes, and their first-period pressure produced the only scoring they needed. Tilde Simensen put Lindenwood ahead 1-0 at 14:02 of the first period, with Nicole Pietrucha assisting. Paige Cline made it 2-0 at 17:06, finishing a setup from Krisztina Weiler. The two-goal cushion gave Bowtell and the Lindenwood defense room to work, and the Lions carried that advantage into the first intermission.

Post had power-play opportunities, but the Eagles could not solve Bowtell. Flora Hanga Pasztor took a tripping penalty at 4:39 of the first period, and Lindenwood’s Rhaea Flint was sent off for crosschecking at 7:53. In the second period, Thea Rustbakken extended the Lindenwood lead to 3-0 at 28:15, scoring with assists from Tatiana Blichova and Michaela Paulinyova. Post’s Tallulah Cameron received an interference penalty at 37:02, but the Eagles failed to convert on the ensuing power play. Bowtell remained steady through the middle frame, turning aside every Post attempt and helping the Lions protect their lead.

Lindenwood put the game away in the third. Krisztina Weiler was called for tripping at 41:42, and Post’s Emerson Hardwick went off for holding at 45:31. Pasztor picked up her second penalty of the game, an interference call at 48:33, and Lindenwood soon took advantage. Silje Gundersen scored at 52:21, with Raquel McCormack and Simensen assisting, to make it 4-0. Flint was assessed a tripping penalty at 52:54, but the Eagles still could not break through. Elina Zilliox closed the scoring at 56:10, converting with assists from Grace Rentmeester and Tatem Starlight-Yellowfly. The five-goal outburst matched a complete defensive effort.

Post’s penalty troubles continued throughout the third period, but the Eagles could not turn their chances into offense. Lindenwood’s defense protected the lead and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard. The shutout was the first of the season for the Lions, and it came in their opener. By the time Zilliox scored, the outcome was no longer in doubt, and Lindenwood finished the final minutes without allowing a late goal.

Bowtell was the top star for Lindenwood, finishing with 15 saves on 15 shots and the win. Simensen contributed one goal, one assist and four shots on goal. Zilliox scored once and put six shots on net. McCormack recorded one assist and four shots, while Rustbakken had one goal and one shot. Cline added one goal and four shots. Gundersen scored once and registered three shots. Paulinyova finished with one assist and nine shots, the highest shot total in the game. Flint recorded four shots and four penalty minutes. Weiler had one assist, three shots and two penalty minutes. The balanced attack gave the Lions five different goal scorers and made Bowtell’s clean sheet stand as the game’s defining performance.

Lindenwood’s win came in the first meeting of the season between the two programs. The Lions will look to carry the momentum into Saturday’s rematch at Post. After that, Lindenwood is scheduled to visit Merrimack on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25 before traveling to Delaware on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. Post will also face Lindenwood again Saturday before visiting Robert Morris on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Lindenwood with a 55 percent probability to win before the game. The result delivered a shutout victory and a 1-0 start for the Lions, while the Eagles opened at 0-1.