CANTON, N.Y. (Interstat) — Charlotte Pieckenhagen had one goal and three assists, and Wisconsin scored six unanswered goals after an early deficit to defeat Saint Lawrence 6-2 on Friday in a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game at Appleton Arena. The Badgers improved to 1-0, while the Saints fell to 0-1. Attendance was 1,433.

Saint Lawrence struck first in the opening period. Alexia Côté scored at 13:59, with Kennedy Emerson assisting, to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. Rylan Haslam doubled the advantage at 15:03, finishing off assists from Cheyenne Degeer and Barbora Jurickova. Wisconsin answered late in the period when Finley McCarthy scored at 16:59, with Rosalie Tremblay assisting. The goal trimmed the Saints’ lead to 2-1 and gave the Badgers momentum heading into the intermission. Earlier in the period, Alex Therien of Saint Lawrence and Kelly Gorbatenko of Wisconsin received roughing penalties at 6:16.

Wisconsin took control in the second period. Kelly Gorbatenko tied the game at 24:02, with Charlotte Pieckenhagen and Emma Venusio earning assists. Cassie Hall then put the Badgers ahead at 28:00, with Pieckenhagen assisting. Rosalie Tremblay extended the lead at 37:27, scoring with assists from Finley McCarthy and Haley Box. Saint Lawrence was called for bodychecking on Brooke Mulvihill at 35:33 and interference on Ella Nancarrow at 37:45, giving Wisconsin power-play opportunities during a decisive stretch. By the end of the second period, Wisconsin had turned a two-goal deficit into a 4-2 lead.

The Badgers kept pressing in the third period. Charlotte Pieckenhagen scored at 42:36, with Madelyn Kimbrel assisting, to make it 5-2. Kelly Gorbatenko added her second goal of the game at 45:20, with Cassie Hall and Pieckenhagen assisting, pushing the lead to 6-2. Rosalie Tremblay received an interference penalty at 47:05, and Saint Lawrence’s Rylan Haslam was called for tripping at 52:32. Wisconsin goaltender Rhyah Stewart recorded 11 saves in the victory as the Badgers protected their cushion.

Pieckenhagen led Wisconsin with four points, including one goal and three assists, and took two shots on goal. Hall finished with one goal, one assist and four shots. Tremblay had one goal, one assist, seven shots, two penalty minutes and one hit. Gorbatenko scored twice, recorded four shots and served two penalty minutes. McCarthy added one goal, one assist and two shots. Venusio contributed one assist from the blue line. For Saint Lawrence, Côté scored one goal and registered two shots. Haslam scored one goal, took three shots and served two penalty minutes. Brooke Mulvihill recorded four shots and two penalty minutes. The Saints’ penalty kill faced repeated pressure as Wisconsin’s attack found rhythm through the middle of the game.

Wisconsin’s comeback began after Saint Lawrence built its 2-0 lead in the first period. The Badgers responded with goals from McCarthy, Gorbatenko, Hall, Tremblay, Pieckenhagen and Gorbatenko again. The six straight goals flipped the game and silenced the home crowd at Appleton Arena. Saint Lawrence had chances early, but Wisconsin’s defense tightened after the first period and limited the Saints’ opportunities the rest of the way. The Badgers held the Saints to two goals and finished the game with a plus-four advantage on the scoreboard.

The victory gave Wisconsin a 1-0 record, while Saint Lawrence dropped to 0-1. The game was the first of the season for both teams and the first meeting between the programs this season. Wisconsin’s top line produced much of the offense, with Pieckenhagen, Hall, Tremblay, Gorbatenko and McCarthy all contributing multiple points or multiple shots. The Badgers’ balanced scoring made the difference after Saint Lawrence’s fast start.

Saint Lawrence received goals from Côté and Haslam, but the Saints could not maintain their early lead. Mulvihill put pressure on the Wisconsin net with four shots, and Haslam added three shots, but the Saints were unable to solve Stewart consistently after the first period. Wisconsin’s penalty kill and even-strength defense settled in as the game progressed.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Wisconsin 5, Saint Lawrence 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Wisconsin with an 82.2 percent probability to win. The actual result surpassed the projected margin as Wisconsin finished with a 6-2 victory.