In a back-and-forth MIAC women’s hockey battle, Gustavus landed the final blow Friday night at Warner Coliseum in St. Paul to defeat Hamline 3-2. The Gusties started the scoring, but the Pipers answered goal-for-goal until Allie Schwab knocked home the game-winner with 3:06 left in the game. Gustavus returns to the win column after a tie and loss in its previous two outings and improves to 15-1-2 overall and 10-0-1 in the MIAC, while the Pipers fall to 8-8-2 overall and 4-6-1 in league play.
Within the first two minutes of the game, Ashley Maskel was called for tripping, putting the Gusties in the power play. It took only :14 for Jess Harren to capitalize in the player advantage with her fourth goal of the season and second in consecutive games. First-years Courtney Boucher and Carolyn Draayer were credited with the assist at the 2:09 mark. With the first period three-fourths complete and Hamline in the player advantage, Haley Johnson netted the equalizer and the score remained tied at 1-1 headed into the first intermission.
Another early-period goal put the Gusties back in front to start to second. Jenna Christensen and Maddie Bergh found Meagan Wanecke just 1:02 into the frame for a 2-1 Gustie lead. The two squads skated the remaining 19 minutes without scoring a goal and Gustavus held onto a one-goal lead at the second break.
Over halfway through the final period, Jessica Kraus shifted the momentum back in the Pipers favor with an unassisted goal at the 11:13 mark. But with just over three minutes to go, Gustavus avoided going three consecutive games without a win in what would have been only the sixth time in the program’s 15-year history with a three-game winless streak. Schwab’s game-winner, assisted by Amanda Cartony and Mollie Carroll, was her nation-leading sixth of the year and her MIAC-leading 31st point (17 goals, 14 assists). By tallying her 31st point, Schwab tied her career-high, which she set during her sophomore season.
The narrow defeat also extends Gustavus’ win streak to 25 games over the Pipers without a loss (25-0) in the 12-year all-time series.
You wouldn’t guess it by glancing at the scoring summary, but the Gusties outshot the Pipers 61-to-13 and won 52-of-70 faceoffs. Gustavus’ shot percent was only .049 compared to Hamline’s .154. Nonetheless, the Gusties skated away with the victory.
Despite taking the loss, Hamline goalie Nicole Jones had a stellar night defending the Pipers goal. She tallied 58 saves for a save percentage of .951. On the other end of the ice, Danielle Justice returned to the Gustie goal after a one-game hiatus and made 11 saves, improving to 11-0-2 on the year.
Game two of the regular season series takes place Saturday at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter, Minn. The puck is set to drop at 2:00 p.m.