The Gusties celebrate a goal.
St. Peter, Minn. – Allison Eder-Zdechlik (So., Stillwater, Minn.) and Halie Gudmonson (Fy., Albertville, Minn.) each scored two goals to lift the Gustavus women’s hockey team to a season-opening 8-2 win over Saint Mary’s on Saturday afternoon at Don Roberts Ice Rink. With the win, the Gustie begin their season 1-0-0, while the Cardinals start 0-1-0 following the loss.
A scoreless first 14 minutes of the contest gave way to four goals in a 5:04 stretch. Junior captain Courtney Boucher (Hastings, Minn.) got things started with the first goal at the 14:19 mark. Boucher was assisted by Emily Reibert (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and the Gusties had an early 1-0 lead.
Saint Mary’s answered with a goal of its own just over a minute later. Brittany Therrien took an assist from Jesse Cwik and found the back of the net to tie the score at 1-1.
The Gusties responded with five unanswered goals, including two in the remaining minutes of the first period. Carolyn Draayer (Jr., Deephaven, Minn.) put Gustavus back in front with her first goal of the season at the 16:29 mark. First-year Halie Gudmonson followed with her first collegiate goal at the 19:23 mark on the power play to extend the Gustie lead to 3-1.
Haley Gudmonson scored two goals in her collegiate debut.
Gustavus tacked on three more goals to open the second period. Allison Eder-Zdechlik led things off with her first goal of the game, this time a short-handed goal, before senior Melissa Doyle (White Bear Lake, Minn.) extended the Gustavus lead to 5-1 at the 9:10 mark. Just :41 seconds later, it was Eder-Zdechlik with another goal, this time on a power play.
With the score 6-1 in favor of the Gusties, Saint Mary’s attempted to push back with a goal late in the second period. Mary DeBartolo scored at the 18:09 mark. She was assisted by Mackenzie Klimek and Sierra Dell.
The Gusties added two more insurance goals in the third and final period. First-year Lydia Wagner (Zumbrota, Minn.) scored on the power play at the 9:33 mark for her first collegiate goal. Gudmonson followed three minutes later with her second goal of the game to seal the six-goal victory with the final score of 8-2.
Six different players scored a goal, while five others registered assists. Eder-Zdechlik led the way for Gustavus, notching two goals and an assist for three points on the day, while Halie Gudmonson scored a pair of goals in her collegiate debut. The three captains – Melissa Doyle, Courtney Boucher, and Carolyn Draayer – along with Lydia Wagner each totaled a goal and an assist on the afternoon, while Courtney Bethune (Fy., Fort Frances, Ont.) recorded two helpers. Emily Reibert, Keri Pickel (Sr., Rochester, Minn.), Riley Viner (Fy., South St. Paul, Minn.), and Maddie Bergh (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) each handed out one assist.
In net, all three Gustavus goalies logged 20:00 of action. Tara Hoverstad (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) started the game and was given the win. Hoverstad played the first period in its entirety, allowing one goal and making seven saves. Fellow sophomore Lindsey Hibbard (Princeton, Minn.) played the third period, holding the Cardinals scoreless and making four saves.
However, the headline of the day was the return of senior netminder Marah Sobczak (Lake Elmo, Minn.). After being involved in a serious car accident prior to the 2012-13 season, Sobczak missed last season in its entirety. Marah stepped back on the ice for the first time since the 2011-12 season on Saturday, a welcomed site to her teammates, coaches, and fans alike. Sobczak played the entire second period, allowing a goal and making seven saves.
The Gusties will be back in action again next Friday when they host UW-Superior for a 7:00 p.m. opening faceoff.
Wonderful, fun game. Way to start the season
What a great weekend for the ladies!! Way to go!