Women’s Hockey Turns Back St. Kate’s 10-0

The Gustavus women’s hockey team posted a 10-0 win over the College of St. Catherine Saturday afternoon behind three goals by Mari Gunderson. The Gusties improved to 4-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the MIAC. Gustavus is now idle until December 2-3 when the Gusties travel to Moorhead for a weekend doubleheader with Concordia.

The Gustavus women’s hockey team posted a 10-0 win over the College of St. Catherine Saturday afternoon behind three goals by Mari Gunderson (Fy., Shoreview, Minn.). The Gusties improved to 4-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the MIAC. Gustavus is now idle until December 2-3 when the Gusties travel to Moorhead for a weekend doubleheader with Concordia.

Gustavus jumped out to an early 3-0 lead midway through the first period, scoring three goals in a two minute, 42 second span. First-year Sarah Heinbigner (Stillwater, Minn.) got the Gusties on the board just 5:29 into the game, beating Wildcat goalie Morgan Kane for her first goal of the season. Gunderson netted her first of the game just 70 seconds later. Kelly Crandall (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) and Margaret Dorer (So., St. Paul, Minn.) were credited with assists on Gunderson’s goal. Junior Andrea Peterson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) capped the stretch with 11:49 remaining in the first period with an unassisted goal, her fifth of the season. Gunderson pushed the Gustavus lead to 4-0 with an unassisted goal with 5:36 to go in the first period.

The Wildcats fought off a number of Gustie chances in the second period, but a checking penalty just inside the final minute of play gave Gustavus its second power play opportunity of the game. Unable to convert on a previous opportunity in the first period, the Gusties would not let this chance pass them by. First-year Jessie Doig (New Prague, Minn.) took a pass from Stefanie Ubl (So., Blaine, Minn.) and placed the puck past Kane to make the score 5-0 Gustavus.

The Gusties exploded for five goals in the third period, with Liz Haakinson (Fy., Moorhead, Minn.) opening up the scoring with a goal just 4:06 gone in the period. Laura Vanelli (So., Eagan, Minn.) scored her sixth goal of the season with 12:01 remaining in the game to make the score 7-0 and Gunderson completed the hat trick just 13 seconds later to give the Gusties an eight goal advantage. Haakinson added her second of the game with 10:18 remining, while Ubl closed out the scoring with a goal in the game’s final eight minutes.

Gunderson (three goals), Haakinson (two goals, one assist), Peterson (one goal, two assists) and Crandall (three assists) each picked up three points to lead the Gusties offensively. With two assists, first-year Jenny Pusch (Minneapolis, Minn.) joined Ubl and Vanelli (one goal, one assist each) with two points. Dorer, sophomore Molly Doyle (Eagan, Minn.) and first-year Ashley Walburn (East Wenatchee, Wash.) each added an assist for Gustavus.

The five third-period goals increased the Gusties’ season total to 22, the most of any MIAC team. With the weekend sweep of St. Kate’s, Gustavus has increased its all-time record over the Wildcats to 17-2-0.