The Gustavus women’s hockey team battled the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for 65 minutes, but neither team could get the puck in the net and the result was a 0-0 tie. The two long-time regional rivals had played to a 2-2 tie in St. Peter early in January. The Gusties extended their nation’s longest unbeaten streak to 22 games.
Gustavus got off to a slow start and could not generate much offense in the first period, but the Pointers were unable to take advantage of the drought and the score was 0-0 after the first twenty minutes. The Gusties held a slight 10-8 advantage in shots on goal.
The second period, the Gusties spent quite a bit of time in the penalty box and the result was a lack of an attack in the UW-Stevens Point end of the ice. Gustavus was assessed three penalties for six minutes, but managed to kill off all three penalties. The Pointers outshot the Gusties 6-2 in the period and it marked only the third time in 69 periods of regulation play this season that Gustavus was out-shot by its opponents.
Gustavus came to life in the third period and put a lot of pressure on the Pointers including several very near misses as the puck rested right next to the goal line only to be swept away at the last second by the UW-Stevens Point goaltender. The Gusties held a 10-3 shot advantage in the period.
In the overtime, Gustavus put two shots on net, while not allowing a shot on goal by the Pointers. The Gusties out-shot UW-Stevens Point 24-17 in the game. Gustavus goaltender Danielle Justice (8-1-4) made 17 saves in 65 minutes of play, while Pointer netminder d’Andra Phillips (10-3-6) turned away 24 shots in 65 minutes.
The Gusties will now wrap up conference play this weekend with a series against Hamline. The two teams will play in St. Peter on Friday night at 7 pm and then on Saturday in St. Paul at 7:15 pm. Gustavus can clinch its fifth consecutive regular season conference title with a sweep of the Pipers.