Members of Anna Maria College's women's hockey team will have a lot on their mind this spring, the least of which may be where or if they'll play hockey next season as the Massachusetts school announced they're closing.
Anna Maria College students will need to find a new place to study next Fall as the Paxton, Massachusetts school announced they'll be closing permanently at the end of this semester. That includes members of the school's NCAA DIII women's hockey team.
Founded as a women's college in 1946, the school announced their closure on Thursday.
"After an exhaustive review of the college’s current financial situation and the industry-wide trends in higher education, the Board of Trustees determined that the College can no longer project sufficient financial resources to sustain its academic operations and meet the needs of enrolled and admitted students for a period that is consistent with the College’s regulatory obligations," Anna Maria College wrote in an announcement.
The school was home to NCAA Division III athletics including a women's hockey team.
Unbeknownst to members of their women's hockey team when they stepped off the ice in late February, it was the last time the AMCATS women's hockey team would ever compete.
Anna Maria played their final game on February 25 falling 6-2 to Framingham State University in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Ice Hockey semi-finals.
Grace Holden scored both goals for the AMCATS in the loss, marking the final goals in program history.
Anna Maria's roster this season featured 11 first year players, including leading scorer Quinn Bennett.
The women's hockey program at Anna Maria College was founded in 2018-19.