Pittston, Pa. (Feb. 18, 2023) - With a 5-0 win over King's College (2-21-2, 0-18-2) to close out the regular season, Alvernia University (2-10-3, 11-8-1) won their first ever MAC Championship in program history on Saturday at King's.

Alvernia finished the MAC season with 24 points and an 8-2-1 record in MAC play to clinch the championship. It is the sixth title awarded by the Middle Atlantic Conference since its inaugural women's ice hockey season in 2017-18. Since that season, Stevenson University has won four MAC titles, and Manhattanville (no longer a MAC member) picked up the fifth. This is Alvernia's first MAC title since Alvernia began women's ice hockey in 2019-20.

Alvernia got on the board with an Olivia Gilida goal on a power play in the 15th minute of action. Gilida collected a rebounded shot and fired it over the right shoulder of the King's goalie to make it a 1-0 game with 5:54 to play in the first.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Golden Wolves going into the second period, but Alvernia would quickly build on its lead in the second frame with three goals in seven minutes.

The first goal in the scoring run once again came off the stick of Gilida. Carolyn Burton passed the puck up to Gilida in position in the faceoff circle. Gilida ripped in a shot from the bench shot and scored to give Alvernia the 2-0 lead.

Just over two minutes later, Alvernia made it a 3-0 contest with Amber Steinhilpert tipping in a cross ice pass just inside the left post. The goal came just 14 seconds into an Alvernia power play.

Alvernia continued to keep things rolling with Julia Franklin beating two defenders and misdirecting the King's goalie to score a back-handed goal off the left post with just under four minutes to play in the second frame. Franklin's goal gave Alvernia the 4-0 advantage.

King's then killed off a late second period power play as Alvernia took the 4-0 lead into the final 20 minutes.

The Golden Wolves continued to dominate in the third period as they added their final goal of the game in the final minute of the game. Senior Fiona Stewart netted her first career goal after picking up a pass from Alex Robertson and firing into net for the 5-0 lead for the Golden Wolves, and, ultimately the 5-0 win.

Gilida led Alvernia's offense with two goals and an assist and she finished the series with the Monarch with a total of four points following a goal on Friday. Beaven picked up her second straight shutout in net for Alvernia with 12 saves. It marks her sixth shutout in a season, tying her own single-season record.

Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday for the UCHC quarterfinals. Alvernia the #4 seed and will host #5 Chatham. The Golden Wolves and Cougars split their regular season series.