Release Courtesy of Matt Higgins – MIAC Assistant Executive Director
BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – The fifth-ranked Gustavus women’s hockey team proved it belongs with the nation’s elite last week with victories over the two other top-seven teams – No. 6 UW-River Falls and No. 7 UW-Stevens Point. In the two victories, junior forward Allison Eder-Zdechlik (Stillwater, Minn.) starred with a total of four goals – including one game-winner and two game-tying goals – and an overall rating of plus-four for the week. For her performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Eder-Zdechlik Monday with the MIAC Women’s Hockey Athlete-of-the-Week award.
The Gusties’ big week started Wednesday with a 3-2 road victory over No. 6 UWRF. Eder-Zdechlik played the hero in the win by netting the game-tying goal, and the game-winner while the Gusties were shorthanded. She continued her scoring streak Saturday in a 3-1 home win over No. 7 UWSP, as she netted two more goals, including Gustavus’ first goal to tie things up at 1-1. Thanks to the high-scoring week, Eder-Zdechlik now has six goals this season to lead Gustavus and rank second in the MIAC, despite missing four of her team’s 11 games due to injury. She also has one assist, a total of seven points, and an overall rating of plus-nine.
Thanks to the two big victories over ranked foes, Gustavus improved to 8-1-2 overall and the Gusties still sit alone atop the MIAC standings with 11 points and a 5-0-1 conference record. Gustavus is ranked No. 5 in the nation by both D3hockey.com and USCHO.com. Eder-Zdechlik and company will take the rest of 2014 off for finals and the Holidays, and will return to action with a pair of home nonconference games on Jan. 9-10.