APPLETON, Wis. — Natalie Meeder scored twice in the first period, and the University of Dubuque women’s hockey team held on for a 3-2 win over Lawrence University on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in the Spartans’ Northern Collegiate Hockey Association opener.

Meeder opened the scoring 6:26 into the first period with her first goal of the season, giving Dubuque the early lead. About two and a half minutes later, Madeline MacLeod scored her first collegiate goal, set up by Camdyn Spangler’s first career assist, to push the margin to 2-0. Meeder was not finished. She struck again at 13:23 of the opening period, assisted by Ashleigh Eldridge, to send the Spartans into the first intermission ahead 3-0.

Lawrence answered with a goal in each of the next two periods, but Dubuque preserved the lead the rest of the way to secure the win and move to 1-0-0 in conference play.

The Spartans controlled the shot count, outshooting the Vikings 40-18. Meeder led all skaters with eight shots, followed by Natalie Post with five, and Alexandria Simmons, MacLeod, and Lauren Jeffery with four apiece.

The fast start told the story of the night. Dubuque scored three times in the first 13 minutes and 23 seconds, and two of the three goals were milestones: Meeder’s first of the season and MacLeod’s first as a collegian, with Spangler’s first career assist on the play. Lawrence pushed back with a goal in each of the final two periods, but the early cushion held.

The win opens the conference schedule on a strong note for a Dubuque program that also saw its men’s team beat Gustavus Adolphus 3-2 on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. The women’s team returns home for its home opener on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, hosting Lawrence again in the second game of the series at 2:00 p.m. at ImOn Arena.