Amanda Cartony scored her third goal of the season on Saturday afternoon.
St. Cloud, Minn. – For the second straight day, the Gustavus women’s hockey team could not hold off the upset-minded Blazers of the College of Saint Benedict. The Gusties fell to the Blazers by the final score of 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at Dave Torrey Arena. Gustavus took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, but Saint Ben’s came storming back to score four unanswered goals over the final period and a half to capture the two-goal victory. With the loss, the Gusties drop to 12-5-2 overall and 10-2-0 in the MIAC, while the Blazers improve to 6-13-0 overall and 3-9-0 in league play.
Gustavus opened the scoring midway through the first period when Amanda Cartony (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) scored her third goal of the season. Cartony’s goal came on the power play and gave the Gusties the 1-0 lead at the 11:45 mark. Halie Gudmonson (Fy., Albertville, Minn.) was credited with an assist on the play.
Although Gustavus outshot the Blazers 21-5 in the opening period, Cartony’s goal would prove to be the only score of the opening period and the Gusties went to the locker room with a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
The Gustie women added to their lead when Courtney Boucher (Jr., Hastings, Minn.) scored the second power play goal of the afternoon to put her team on top 2-0 at the 13:37 mark. Marissa Brandt (Jr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.) assisted the goal.
Tara Frey put Saint Benedict on the scoreboard with her third goal of the season with just 2:21 remaining in the period. Frey’s goal would be the final of the period and Gustavus clung to a 2-1 lead at the second intermission.
Although the two teams were even on the scoreboard, the tides turned in favor of the Blazers in the second period. Saint Ben’s outshot Gustavus 12-8 in the frame, which carried over to the third period where the Blazers scored three more unanswered goals.
Siri Berg-Moberg tied the game at two goals apiece when she scored just 2:54 into the period. Berg-Moberg’s second goal of the season was assisted by Elli Marvin and Stephanie Kirk.
Nine minutes later, the Blazers took their first lead of the game when Katie Cristan scored her first goal of the season. Ally Nielsen assisted on the go-ahead goal, which gave Saint Benedict the 3-2 lead.
Gustavus could not answer the score and was forced to pull its goalie with 31 seconds to play. Saint Ben’s took advantage of the empty net with a goal with just seven seconds remaining to the 4-2 victory.
For the game, the Gusties held a 36-22 shot advantage, including 15 shots on seven power play opportunities.
In net, Lindsey Hibbard (So., Princeton, Minn.) allowed three goals and made 18 saves in the losing effort. Jenna Traut allowed just two goals and was credited with the win for Saint Benedict in a 34-save effort.
Gustavus will be back in action next weekend when the Gusties take on St. Catherine University in a two-game series. Friday night’s game will begin at 7:00 p.m., in St. Peter before the two teams travel to St. Paul for a 2:00 p.m., opening face off on Saturday afternoon.