The Gustavus women’s hockey team found itself down, 2-0, to UW-Stevens Point halfway through the first period, but rebounded to defeat the Pointers, 4-3, Saturday night at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Molly Doyle (So., Eagan, Minn.) scored a pair of goals, while Margaret Dorer (So., St. Paul, Minn.) scored the game-winning goal with 8:47 remaining in the game. The Gusties improve to 2-1 on the season, while UW-Stevens Point suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 3-1 overall.
UW-Stevens Point’s Nicole Grossman put the first goal on the board with 11:08 remaining in the first period, while teammate Kim Lunneborg added a second tally just 1:09 later. The Gusties found the net for the first time at the 6:02 mark of the first period, as first-year Jessica Doig (New Prague, Minn.) converted a power-play opportunity for her third goal of the season. First-years Jenny Pusch (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Mari Gunderson (Shoreview, Minn.) were credited with assists on the goal.
Doyle knotted the score at two with her first goal of the night at the 7:20 mark of the second period. Margaret Dorer registered an assist on the power-play goal. Doyle added her second goal of the night just over three minutes into the third period, redirecting a Kelly Crandall pass past Pointer goalie Amy Statz.
UW-Stevens Point rebounded to tie the score with 10:41 remaining in the game as Hilary Bulger placed the puck past Gustie goalie Kitty Hurley (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.). A Pointer checking penalty just six seconds later gave the Gusties a power play. Gustavus cashed in the opportunity as Dorer found the net for her third goal of the season. Andrea Peterson (Jr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Crandall (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) were credited with assists on the play.
Kitty Hurley improved to 1-1-0 in goal for the Gusties, picking up 16 saves.
The Gusties moved their record to 2-1 on the season, defeating a UW-Stevens Point team they had met in the quarterfinals of each of the past two NCAA Tournaments. UWSP fell to 3-1 on the season. Gustavus will open the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a home-and-home series with the College of St. Catherine. The Gusties and Wildcats will open the series Friday night at Lund Arena at 7 p.m. Action will move to St. Paul for Saturday afternoon’s game.