While the NCAA is filled with veteran goaltenders, there are a group of rookie NCAA netminders off to strong starts, who are catching the eyes of fans.
While the NCAA is filled with veteran goaltenders, there are a group of rookie NCAA netminders off to strong starts, who are catching the eyes of fans.
In the NCAA, older goaltenders dominate. Given the depth of goaltending from the professional ranks down, goalies often linger in the NCAA longer to get starts. Goalies like Gwyneth Philips, Sanni Ahola, Skylar Vetter, Pia Dukaric, and Logan Angers continues to shine as seniors and graduate players. This season however, a group of rookie netminders are starting for major NCAA programs, and are performing beyond their years.
Here's a look at five NCAA rookie netminders playing major roles early in the 2023-2024 season.
Uma Corniea, Princeton - Perhaps the best goaltender to come from Minnesota high school hockey in a decade, Cornier was the Minnesota high school goaltender of the year, and winningest goalie and career shutout leader in Minnesota high school hockey history after her time with Edna. As an NCAA rookie, the 5-foot-10 netmnder has a .970 save percentage and 0.67 GAA, including one shutout in three starts this season with Princeton.
Sedona Blair, New Hampshire - Stepping into the starting role of an NCAA program as a rookie netminder isn't easy, but in starting all eight games this season for New Hampshire, Sedona Blair has made it look easy. Not only does she have a 4-3-1 record and a shutout, but she's been the glue keeping New Hampshire together at times already. Blair has a .913 save percentage and 2.35 GAA through eight games.
Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin - She's won all four games she's played with powerhouse Wisconsin in front of her. McNaughton has a 1.09 GAA and .938 save percentage. She also collected her first career shutout. It would not be surprising to see McNaughton at more USA Hockey camps moving forward as she fits their trend of finding bigger goalies. The Wexford, Pennsylvania product is six-foot, and played for USA's U-18 program.
Annelies Bergmann, Cornell - It's hard not to be excited about how good Bergmann will become. She's 3-0-0 this season for Cornell posting a 1.33 GAA and .938 save percentage. Last season Bergmann became for the first woman to ever appear in an NAHL game. Similar to McNaughton, the 6-foot-1 netminder is big, and will be a key candidate for USA Hockey in the future.
Eve Gascon, Minnesota-Duluth - It's almost hard to call Gascon a rookie as she's been playing college hockey in Quebec for two seasons, and also got into games in the QMJHL with the Gatineau Olympiques, winning one and dropping the other in overtime. Expectations for Gascon, who is considered one of Canada's goalies of the future, are sky high, but so far she has not disappointed for Minnesota-Duluth posting a .937 save percentage through her first four games.
Other NCAA rookie goalies to watch: Eleanor Rogers (Dartmouth), Mari Pieterson (Boston University), Julia Bachetti (Maine), Courtney Stagman (Saint Anslem)