The Gustavus women’s hockey team capped its impressive 2011-12 regular season campaign with a 7-2 victory over Saint Benedict on Saturday afternoon in St. Cloud, Minn. The Gusties finish the regular season with a 21-2-2 overall record and 16-1-1 mark in the MIAC, while the Blazers end their season at 5-17-3 overall and 3-12-3 in league play.
Amanda Cartony got the second scoring rout of the weekend started with a goal at the 6:21 mark of the first period – Allie Schwab with the helper. Saint Ben’s netted the equalizer with 1:49 left in the period on a goal from Kerri Graske and the two squads skated into the first intermission tied at one.
The second is when the Gusties took the reigns and put the game out of reach with four unanswered goals, three of which were netted within a 2:06 span. Cartony scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the weekend at the 7:33 mark on a power play. Just over a minute later, Courtney Boucher found the back of the net with the help of Kelly Thotland and Jess Harren, and not more than a minute after that, Schwab cashed in her team-leading 22nd goal of the season for a 4-1 Gustie lead. Thotland scored the fourth goal of the frame at the 16:47 point, assisted by Mollie Carroll and Boucher. Carroll finished the game with a hat trick of assists as she leads the team in that category with 22 dimes.
Jenna Christensen and Harren scored two more goals in the third for the Three Crowns before the Blazers found the net one last time. Alli O’Brien brought the score to a 7-2 final at the 11:54 mark with the help of Katelyn Bounds.
Danielle Justice tallied 20 saves in goal for the Gusties with two goals allowed, while Jenna Traut took the loss in nets for the Blazers after stopping 37 shots.
Gustavus outshot Saint Ben’s 44-to-22 and won 44-of-60 faceoffs.
The Gusties now will sit and wait to see who wins the No. 4-5 play-in game between St. Olaf and Bethel on Tuesday night. Gustavus will face the winner of that game on Thursday, March 1 at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter, Minn. for a 7:00 p.m. MIAC Semifinal match-up.