Winona, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s hockey team defeated Saint Mary’s 4-3 in a back-and-forth battle on Friday night at the SMU Ice Arena. With the win, Gustavus improves to 11-3-2 overall and 9-0-0 in the MIAC, while Saint Mary’s drops to 5-10-1 overall and 3-6-0 in league play.
After falling behind 2-1 in the first period, the Gusties battled back to take a 3-2 lead in the second before the Cardinals tied the score headed to the second intermission. Carolyn Draayer (Jr., Deephaven, Minn.) played the hero when she scored the game-winning goal on the power play 4:09 into the third period.
McKenna Parent opened the game’s scoring when she scored her fifth goal of the season 5:48 into the first period. Parent was unassisted on the goal.
Five minutes later, Melissa Doyle (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) had the equalizer thanks to an assist from Allison Eder-Zdechlik (So., Stillwater, Minn.). The goal was Doyle’s eighth of the season, while Eder-Zdechlik’s assist was her seventh.
With just over five minutes remaining in the period, the Cardinals answered with the go-ahead goal. Katie LeTourneau found the back of the net for the third time this season thanks to an assist from Breanna Peterson and Saint Mary’s went to the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Gustavus needed little time to tie the game again in the second period. Awarded a power play just 43 seconds into the frame, the Gusties scored 13 seconds into the skater advantage when Lydia Wagner (Fy., Zumbrota, Minn.) scored her second goal of the season. Carolyn Draayer and Emily Reibert (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) each recorded an assist on the play.
Six minutes later, the Gusties took their first lead of the game when Melissa Doyle scored her second goal of the game. Doyle’s goal came with an assist from Halie Gudmonson (Fy., Albertville, Minn.) and Gustavus was on top 3-2.
Saint Mary’s answered less than a minute later when Breanna Peterson scored unassisted. Peterson’s fifth goal of the year tied the game 3-3, which is where it would stay into the second intermission.
Gustavus took advantage of another power play in the early going of the third period. Carolyn Draayer netted the game-winner 4:09 into the frame, which would prove to be all the Gusties would need, as they held the Cardinals scoreless in the third and hang on for the 4-3 victory.
The Gusties held the shot advantage by the count of 40-30 in the game and were 2 for 8 on the power play, compared to an 0 for 3 mark for Saint Mary’s.
Lindsey Hibbard (So., Princeton, Minn.) earned the win after making 27 saves. Sarah Gustafson suffered the loss for Saint Mary’s in a 36-save effort.
These two teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon at Don Roberts Ice Rink. That opening face off is set for 2:00 p.m.