Moorhead, Minn. – After trailing 1-0 midway through the opening period, the Gustavus women’s hockey team came back to score four unanswered goals, including three in the third period, to capture a 4-1 win over Concordia on Friday night at the Moorhead Sports Center. With the win, Gustavus improves to 2-1-1 overall and opens Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play 1-0-0. Concordia drops to 0-3-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the MIAC.
The Cobbers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third minute when Amber Schaack scored on the first power play of the contest. Schaack was assisted by Jess Nelson and Ellen Rethwisch on the play.
Gustavus had the equalizer in the 15th minute when Allison Eder-Zdechlik (So., Stillwater, Minn.) scored her fourth goal of the season. Eder-Zdechlik used a helper from Amanda Cartony (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) on the goal and the two teams went to the locker room at the first intermission tied at 1-1.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the second period. Gustavus outshot Concordia 15-8 in frame, but still could not find the back of the net and the game entered the third period still tied 1-1.
After being held quiet in the second period, the Gusties came roaring out of the gate in the third. Keri Pickel (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) scored her first goal of the season just over four minutes into the final frame to give Gustavus a 2-1 lead.
Carolyn Draayer (Jr., Deephaven, Minn.) followed Pickel three and a half minutes later to extend the Gustavus lead to 3-1. Draayer used assists from Eder-Zdechlik and Cartony to score her second goal of the year.
Eder-Zdechlik tacked on one more insurance goal for the Gusties with just over a minute and a half remaining in the game. The sophomore was assisted by Cartony once more to put the finishing touches on the three-goal victory.
Both Allison Eder-Zdechlik and Amanda Cartony recorded three-point nights. Eder-Zdechlik finished with two goals and an assist, while Cartony racked up a hat trick of assists on the night.
In net, Tara Hoverstad (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) recorded the win after allowing just one goal and making 19 saves. She improves to 2-0-1 on the season. Madison Denny suffered the loss for the Cobbers. Denny allowed all four goals and made 31 saves on the night.
These two teams will square off once again tomorrow afternoon in the series finale. Tomorrow’s opening face off is set for 2:00 p.m., in Moorhead.