ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict athletic department celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025-26 athletic year in May with its annual student-athlete celebration. Twelve Bennies were announced as finalists for the annual CSB Rookie of the Year award, presented to the top newcomer of the season in each sport.

Goaltender Lexi Badali (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) was named hockey's candidate for the award. 

Badali backstopped CSB hockey to its most successful season in program history. The first-year started 22 games in net and helped the Bennies claim their first MIAC Playoff Championship. She played in all but six games and earned a 12-7-3 record. Four of her seven losses were by one goal.

The netminder finished her rookie year with a 1.76 GAA (39 goals against) and a .942 save percentage (631 saves). She started her career with five Athlete of the Week honors, two from the conference and three from the department. She was named All-MIAC honorable mention after finishing first in conference games played (18); second in minutes played (1086:45) and saves (492); fourth in save percentage (.937); and fifth in goals-against average (1.82) and shutouts (2). 

After the conclusion of the regular season, she helped the Bennies to 120 minutes of playoff victories, defeating No. 7 Hamline, 4-2 and Gustavus Adolphus, 2-1. Badali made 70 saves between the two games to earn MIAC All-Playoff honors. 

In CSB's NCAA tournament appearance, she saved 43 shots from the No. 3 team in the country to keep the Bennies' playoff hopes alive. She played 47:28 minutes of shutout hockey before the eventual national semifinalists scored two in the waning minutes of the first-round match-up.

Following the national tournament, Badali earned a selection to DIIIHockeyNews.com's national All-Rookie team and All-America first team. She is CSB hockey's first All-American in program history. 

CSB (16-8-4, 9-6-3 MIAC) won the MIAC Playoff Championship for the first time in program history in 2025-26. The Bennies finished No. 15 in the DIIIHockeyNews.com rankings, the first national ranking in program history.

CSB ended the season in the top 25 in eight statistical categories: ninth in short-handed goals (4); 21st in goals (76) and scoring offense (2.71 gpg); 22nd in winning percentage (0.643); 23rd in assists (104) and team points (180); and 24th in scoring margin (+0.82) and team shutouts (4).