NASHUA, N.H. - In her second season at the helm, head coach Marykate Drinkwater has guided Rivier University women's ice hockey to a historic campaign. The Raiders secured 16 regular-season wins, surpassing the 2025-26 squad for the most in program history, and earned the No. 2 seed in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament.
For the first time, the program will host a semifinal round, welcoming No. 3 Salem St. to Conway Arena on Friday, February 27, with puck drop set for 6:50 p.m.
After a 5-4-0 start, Rivier found its rhythm on Dec. 6 with a 3-2 win over SUNY Potsdam, snapping a seven-game skid in the all-time series. From there, the Raiders rattled off four straight victories to match the longest winning streak in program history.
The run was halted on Jan. 24 in a 4-3 overtime battle against Salem St. Rivier bounced back with two more conference wins to improve to 5-2 in MASCAC play before returning to Rockett Arena and earning an overtime revenge win over the Vikings. The Raiders closed the regular season with a 2-2 mark in MASCAC action, finishing 8-4 in conference play and securing the No. 2 seed in the postseason tournament.
The Raiders and Vikings have met three times this season; all three contests were decided in overtime, with Rivier holding a 2-1 edge.
First-year forward Chloe Bryda turned in a breakout campaign, leading the team with 26 points (15g, 11a) across 24 games. Fellow first-year forward Mary Kelley added 13 points (4g, 9a), senior defender Olivia Schultz tallied 12 points (4g, 8a), and first-year forward Casey Roth recorded 11 points (7g, 4a).
Five Raiders posted 10 points: first-year Lexi Davies (8g, 2a), senior Jessica Driscoll (6g, 4a), first-year Marina Bassett (4g, 6a), sophomore Keegan McGaheran (3g, 7a), and senior Molly Dukesherer (1g, 9a).
Bryda's 26 points lead the conference, while her 15 goals and 11 assists also pace the MASCAC. Five of her 15 goals have stood as game-winners, the most in the conference and fifth nationally. Kelley ranks third in the conference in both total points and assists, while Davies sits third in goals.
Junior Taylor Bruno anchored the Raiders in net, compiling a .950 save percentage and a 1.66 goals-against average while stopping 493 shots on the season. The Methuen, Mass. natives save percentage and goals-against average rank second in the conference, while her total save count is third best.
For the Vikings, seniors Aislinn Bennett and Isabelle Besser have been key contributors all season, each producing 12 points. Bennett leads the MASCAC with 11 assists while adding one goal, while Besser has netted seven goals and dished out five assists. In net, sophomore Delaney Cox has posted a .930 save percentage, a 2.00 goals-against average, and turned aside 383 shots.
The winner of Friday's matchup will advance to the MASCAC championship to take on the winner of No.1 seed Worcester St. and No. 5 Seed Framingham St. on Friday, March 7, with location and time to be determined.
