Twice as nice

On March 14, the Augsburg University Women’s Hockey team ended their season with a 24-5-1 record. MIAC regular-season champions for the second year in a row, the Auggies earned a straight shot into the NCAA Division III National Tournament’s first round against Elmira College, hosted at Ed Saugestad Rink.

“The biggest factor that has propelled our success this year is our confidence. Last season’s successes proved to us that we can compete with the best teams in the country,” defender Tenley Stewart ’26 said. “I think we have leaned into the experiences we had from last season and have used it to focus more on the details this year.”

This season’s efforts showed as six players earned MIAC honors. Named to the All-MIAC team were Kate Haug ’26, Nora Stepan ’26, Ella Olson ’27, and Aunna Schulte ’28. Stewart earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors and Marissa Paaske ’26 was named to the eight-player All-MIAC Playoff Team. Stepan also received MIAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and head coach Elizabeth Bauer received MIAC Coach of the Year.

“Our coaching staff does a great job reminding us that we’re students first and that balance matters,” forward Haug said. “They’re supportive if we communicate about academic responsibilities and encourage us to manage our time well. That support makes it a lot easier to stay focused both on the ice and in other areas of life.”

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Q&A with Elizabeth Bauer, Women’s Hockey Head Coach

Tell us a little about your own hockey career, especially as a coach, and how you came to be the head coach at Augsburg.

I’m in my second year as head coach, having taken over from Michelle McAteer, who’s now the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Commissioner. I got to take over a great program—Coach McAteer was here for 14 seasons and led the Auggies to eight consecutive MIAC playoff appearances.

I always knew I wanted to be in coaching. My dad has coached hockey for over 30 years, and he’s my primary role model for coaching. My siblings are hockey players and figure skaters, so we all grew up around the rink. I played hockey at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire and started professional coaching as soon as I graduated: first at Sports Exceleration in Hudson, Wisconsin, and then at MAP Hockey in Blaine, Minnesota.

I loved my experiences as a player. They were very meaningful for my life. So part of coaching for me is definitely giving back to the sport.

How would you characterize the Augsburg women’s hockey program culture, especially this year?

Yes, culture is so important, and it really starts with relationships. We have a team approach that focuses on strong leadership from upperclassmen—which I think is just as important as good coaching—and then setting clear expectations for the whole team. We work on team bonding and building trust on and off the ice. Even if a team doesn’t have all the skills you might want, a good culture can take a team far. Our seven seniors this year have really stepped well into their leadership roles.

In general, Augsburg has a great hockey culture. We co-host an alumni game [where current and former players play each other] almost every season, and host some fundraisers for the program that are well supported by alums. The alums of this program maintain a lot of connections with each other and show up for games. They love to give back, and we really appreciate them. The program wouldn’t be the same without them and all the work they put in as players and now their support as alums.

What’s been the story behind the team’s success this season?

This year’s team is very competitive. They compete with and care for each other. They have a common goal to win and to do it the right way, and they always want ice time. They are happy for others who are succeeding, and that unselfishness is really important in hockey.

How do you help student-athletes maintain balance between athletic, academic, and personal growth?

Being at a smaller university helps, I think. The professors have high expectations and are also willing to support reasonable accommodations for student-athletes. We encourage all of our players to develop strong communications with their professors and to work directly with them on academic matters. Balance is important in life, and hockey is only one aspect. Our players know that missing practice because you’re in class is not a huge deal—it’s part of being a student-athlete. And school really should come first. The team had an aggregate 3.8 GPA last semester. They compete to be good in the classroom and on the ice!

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Top image: Augsburg women’s hockey players hold up two fingers, symbolizing their MIAC regular-season championship winning streak. (Photo by Kevin Healy)