Tommie graduate Julie Minotti rests alone during a timeout in the third period. Tommies lost in overtime against Providence 7-6. (Evan Neubauer/The Crest) 
Freshman forward Whitney Horton scored a goal in the third period, fueling a 4-0 run to tie the game 6-6. (Evan Neubauer/The Crest) 
The Tommies spent a moment together in the center of their new arena after a loss to Providence. (Evan Neubauer/The Crest)
The St. Thomas women’s hockey team played the first-ever game inside the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena Friday afternoon.
The Tommies fell 7-6 in overtime in the first-ever matchup between the two programs despite outshooting Providence 44-14.
“I’m proud of our team of how we came back in the third period,” junior forward Rylee Bartz said. “It was a great ending, but not the way we wanted it, and we’re excited to play tomorrow.”
The Tommies fed off the energy of a crowd made up almost entirely of Tommie fans. The pep band kept the rink buzzing throughout the entire game and between periods. Students were scattered in the student section, while friends and families flooded in behind the teams’ benches and the penalty boxes.
Bartz shared the excitement about experiencing the first game in the arena.
“It was awesome. It was more than I could even describe,” Bartz said. “The parents, the fans that showed up for us to make this day so special was incredible and something I am truly thankful for.”
The Tommies trailed 5-2 entering the third period before mounting an electric comeback. Bartz buried her sixth goal of the season on the power play midway through the period, assisted by sophomore forward Nora Sauer and first-year forward Teagan Kulenkamp, marking Kulenkamp’s first collegiate career assist.
Just minutes later, first-year forward Whitney Horton scored her first collegiate goal with 8 minutes left, cutting the deficit to one. Junior forward Ella Boerger then scored her first goal of the season, tying the game 5–5 with just under 5 minutes left in regulation.
After another Providence penalty, sophomore forward Ilsa Lindaman scored her second of the night on the power play at with less than two minutes to give the Tommies a 6-5 lead, their first since the first period.
Providence pulled their goalie immediately and tied the game 6-6 with just 31 seconds left in regulation. This was the second time in three games that St. Thomas has surrendered a goal in the final minute of regulation.
In overtime, Providence’s Kirchmair completed a four-goal night, scoring at 2:28 to secure the 7–6 win.
Coach Bethany Brausen said the team managed to get their comeback because the players trusted the game plan.
“They were really committed to doing all the small things, trusting the systems, and created a lot of offense because of it,” Brausen said. “When you have athletes– are able to get in the zone in that manner, that’s when you can find a lot of success.”
Providence struck early, scoring 23 seconds into the first period, but the Tommies responded quickly. Kulenkamp netted her third goal of the season at 3:43 in the first period.
After drawing a power play, sophomore forward Lindaman converted for her fourth goal of the season, assisted by Boerger – her tenth of the year, making her second in the WCHA in assists – to put St. Thomas ahead 2-1 at 6:25 of the first period.
Following St. Thomas’ second goal, the Friars went nearly 15 minutes without a single shot on net, but then managed to tie the game 2-2 with five minutes left in the first period.
Despite two early Providence penalties in the second period, St. Thomas couldn’t convert on the power play. Providence surged back with three straight goals – all scored by senior forward Reichen Kirchmair.
The Tommies then pulled sophomore goalie Dani Strom from the net and put in graduate Julia Minotti 16 minutes after Providence’s third consecutive goal.
Despite the loss, Brausen explained that the comeback shows that the team had grown in resilience.
“They truly believe that they’re never out of a game,” Brausen said. “When you start to get that in the locker room and on the bench, that type of personality in your space, that’s when championship culture starts to develop.”
The arena will be hosting the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament off from March 5th-7th, 2026.
WCHA commissioner Michelle McAteer attended the game and said she thought the arena was beautiful.
“I think it’s an incredible venue to showcase the top women’s college hockey conference in the country,” McAteer said. “We’re excited that this is going to be the first postseason event held in this space.”
Reagan Boschulte can be reached at bosc3829@stthomas.edu.
