Even with the graduation of Jill Hertl from Franklin Pierce at the end of last season, NEWHA has no shortage of talented netminders. Victoria Rutnik of Long Island University is currently leading the way with a 0.40 goals-against average (GAA) and .984% save percentage (SV%) through three games.
But a couple of freshmen are right on her heels. Taylor Thompson of Assumption and Kalyssa Bayne of Saint Anselm wasted no time getting settled into their collegiate skates. The rookies have surprised their opponents and already made names for themselves with impressive performances to start their NCAA careers.
Taylor Thompson (Assumption)
Entering the 2026-27 season, Assumption seemed to be stacked with a wealth of veteran athletes, including Ava and Kayla McGaffigan on the front end, Justina Valentini on the blue line, and Jadyn Weiser in the crease. But when opening day rolled around, Weiser was nowhere to be seen. Not on the ice, not in the portal, not on the roster. In fact, she had transferred to the University of Notre Dame, where she is currently playing club hockey. Her premature departure from the team after her junior season was quiet. Last year, Weiser put up a 2.14 GAA and a .934 SV% after starting nearly every game for Assumption.
With an experienced roster coming into the 2026-27 season, the Greyhounds were the favorites in the NEWHA Preseason Poll. But where does losing their starting goaltender put them?
To start the year, the Greyhounds gave their three rostered goaltenders a trial run, handing them one game each. Junior Leila Fournier backstopped game 1, while sophomore Maria Suarez got the reins for game 2. Rookie Taylor Thompson took on the biggest task yet: an out-of-conference contest against Holy Cross.
The freshman out of Forest Lake, Minnesota, dazzled in that game, coming up with 23 big saves to keep the Greyhounds on pace with a team that reached as high as No. 13 in the national poll last year. Regulation time ended even at 2-2. Thompson stood tall through five minutes of overtime to add a nice feather in Assumption’s cap early in the season. Her performance also earned her NEWHA Goaltender of the Week.
Thompson has been the go-to for the Greyhounds ever since, earning five straight starts, a 4-0-1 record, and her first career shutout against Sacred Heart. Through those games, she owns a 1.57 GAA and a .943 SV% — an impressive start to her collegiate career.
Kalyssa Bayne (Saint Anselm)
Entering their last season of Division I play, St. A’s were expected to have some challenges as they transitioned to a DIII team.
However, in their first game of the season, the Hawks made a statement. To start their 2026-27 campaign, St. A’s faced Assumption, the team ranked at No. 1 in NEWHA on the preseason poll. Assumption did win this game, but not by the expected margin. The Greyhounds emerged with just a narrow 3-2 victory after 60 minutes.
A lot of the credit for keeping that game competitive belongs to freshman goaltender Kalyssa Bayne. Bayne made a whopping 76 saves on 79 shots, which established a new program record for Saint Anselm and stands just two saves shy of the NCAA DI record of 78 set by Desi Clark of Mercyhurst in 2005.
Sophomore Emma Brewer got the start for game 2 and also put up 76 saves. But the Hawks will likely use Bayne’s talent either individually or in a goalie tandem as the season progresses.
