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2025 Women's Division Playoffs

Danny Baum

Playoffs season is officially here. College Hockey South (CHS) will host their second-ever Women’s Division playoffs at Akins Ford Arena, 155 Hickory St., Athens, GA. This tournament will span from February 7-9, 2025. 


The women’s division has been fierce and riveting this season. Despite this, only six teams will secure their spot in the playoffs. The first and second seeds will receive a first round bye to the semi-finals. 


On Friday the 7th, the third seed will face the sixth seed, and the fourth seed will face the fifth seed in the Quarterfinals. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday, the 8th. On Sunday the 9th, the championship and third-place games will occur. 


The final seeds for the tournament are as follows:

#1 University of Tampa

#2 University of Alabama

#3 University of South Florida

#4 University of South Carolina

#5 Auburn University

#6 University of Georgia


Tickets for this season’s playoffs can be purchased here.

Traveling in and need somewhere to stay? Book your stay in Athens here.


The game schedule is as follows:


Friday, February 7, 2025

2:30 PM ET - Game 1 - University of South Florida vs. University of Georgia

4:00 PM ET - Game 2 - University of South Carolina vs. Auburn University


Saturday, February 8, 2025

10:00 AM ET - 5th Place Game - Auburn Unviersity vs. University of Georgia

2:00 PM ET - Semi Final Game 1 - University of Alabama vs. University of South Florida

3:30 PM ET - Semi Final Game 2 - University of Tampa vs. University of South Carolina


Sunday, February 9, 2025

10:00 AM ET - 3rd Place Game

2:00 PM ET - Championship Game


Fans can catch all the playoff action live on the College Hockey South YouTube channel.


Day 1 Recap


Quarterfinal #1: 2:30 PM - (3) South Florida vs (6) Georgia

After a feeling-out process in the first period, the Lady Bulls charged through Georgia in the middle frame. The South Florida onslaught began with leading scorer Anne Bachand breaking the ice 26 seconds into the period. Bachand’s goal is all South Florida needed, but they piled on the offense.


Amber Lopez doubled the South Florida lead two and a half minutes after Bachand’s goal, and Alexis Piazza capped off a three-goal period for the Lady Bulls. Georgia could not get sustained pressure in the offensive zone, and CHS’s leading scorer, Paige Oukes, was neutralized entirely.


South Florida added a fourth goal in the final stanza to win 4-0. Goaltender Ana Hareas stopped 16 shots en route to her first career playoff shutout. Annabella Buontempo, Amber Lopez, and Emily Anderson each had two points for the Lady Bulls. 


South Florida will meet Alabama in the semifinals tomorrow at 2:00 P.M. EST.


FINAL

South Florida 4

Georgia 0


Quarterfinal #2: 4:00 PM - (4) South Carolina vs (5) Auburn

We have an early contender for the game of the playoffs! 


For three full periods and a few minutes of overtime, Auburn and South Carolina traded momentum shifts to create a classic here in Athens.


South Carolina dominated territorial play and shots on goal, sending 50 toward Auburn goalie Stephanie Xhumba. But it was Auburn who scored first off the stick of their star forward/defenseman Gabriella Donato. Donato finished the four points(two goals and two assists) to bump her point total to 41 in 15 games this year.


After Donato broke the ice, South Carolina scored four of the following five goals, taking a 4-2 lead less than three minutes into the third. The momentum pendulum swung back Auburn’s way, though, with two goals in short order to even the game at four. 


The Tigers were opportunistic with their few chances, scoring on four of their 17 shots in the game. 


The Gamecocks came within inches of taking the lead back in the dying minutes of regulation, but Xhumba or the goalposts beat them, and our second game here in Athens went to overtime.


After some hectic near misses, South Carolina forced a face-off in the offensive zone. The Gamecocks scrambled the draw, South Carolina forward Haley McAlarney chipped the puck on net, and Alyssa Nardslico buried the rebound to send the Gamecocks to the semifinal.


South Carolina will meet Tampa in the semifinals in a 2024 CHS Championship Game rematch. The puck will drop at 3:30 P.M. EST on Saturday.  


FINAL (OT)

South Carolina 5

Auburn 4


Day 2 Recap


5th Place Game - Auburn vs Georgia

A day after their heartbreaking overtime loss in the quarterfinals to South Carolina, Auburn triumphed in another tight battle, this time against Georgia.


This game will be called the Rachel Guarino legacy game because she was absolutely dynamite. Guarino picked up two assists and a hat trick for the highest point total for any CHS player in the playoffs this year.


Guarino scored back-to-back goals in the second period to put Auburn up by one in the middle period. Guarino added an insurance marker in the third to put it away for the Tigers. Georgia's leading scorer, Paige Oukes, was heard from in this game, collecting two goals and an assist.


FINAL

Auburn 6

Georgia 3


Semifinal #1 - (2) Alabama vs (3) South Florida

Following the men’s team’s victory in the fifth-place game, Alabama’s women’s team completed a Saturday sweep for the Frozen Tide, winning a ping-pong match of a game, 11-6. 


The underdog Lady Bulls gave the ‘Tide a scare, taking the lead twice in the first period. Lauren Pinajian scored the first three goals for USF and continues to shine this tournament. 


Women’s Division MVP Claire Carson took the game over once the game was tied at 3. Carson isn’t the biggest player on the ice, but her presence is felt whenever she’s out there. Carson finished with three goals and two assists, propelling her team into the championship game.


It’s been a remarkable ride for Alabama, winning 12 of their first 14 games in their inaugural season. They advance to the championship game tomorrow.


FINAL

Alabama 11 

South Florida 6


Semifinal #2: (1) Tampa vs (4) South Carolina

The rematch of 2024’s championship game was a doozy for the first two periods, and then the reigning champs took care of business.


After a taxing overtime win against Auburn yesterday, South Carolina carried the play in the early going and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Lady Spartans roared back, scoring three goals in the second and taking a slight lead into the third.


Tampa put a championship effort together in the final period, burying an exhausted South Carolina team that couldn’t keep up with them. Ava Johnson and her old pal Laura McGregor put the game on ice for the Lady Spartans, each collecting a goal to finish off the Gamecocks.


Tampa advances to the championship game tomorrow against Alabama at 2:00 P.M. EST.


FINAL

Tampa 7

South Carolina 2


ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 30-school, 50-team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states that competes in AAU College Hockey. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.



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