Release courtesy of Matt Higgins – MIAC Assistant Executive Director
BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – Gustavus forward Erica Power (Lakeville, Minn./Apple Valley) certainly had a clutch weekend to help her team secure a sweep of St. Catherine and remain atop the MIAC standings. The first-year standout came through when her team needed it most, as she scored the game-winning goal in both of the Gusties’ wins over the Wildcats. For her performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Power Monday with the MIAC Women’s Hockey Athlete-of-the-Week award.
Power started her big weekend by delivering the game-winner in Friday’s 4-1 road win over SCU. Gustavus had just tied things up 1-1 when she struck with the go-ahead goal just 38 seconds later to dramatically shift the momentum and help give her team the win. A day later, her game-winner in front of the home crowd was even more dramatic, as she scored the game’s only goal with just two minutes remaining in the final period to lift her team to a 1-0 win and the sweep. This season, Power ranks seventh in the MIAC in goals (eight), second in assists (13) and fourth in points (21) and she shares the league lead with three game-winning goals. Her 21 points lead all MIAC first-year players.
Thanks to the sweep, Gustavus improved to 17-2-2 overall and 13-0-1 in MIAC play. The Gusties were the first team to clinch a MIAC Playoff bid, and sit in first place with 27 points, five ahead of second-place St. Thomas. Gustavus is ranked No. 5 in the nation by D3hockey.com and USCHO.com, and the team has now won nine games in a row. Power and company take to the ice this weekend in a series that has major MIAC title implications, as the Gusties will play a home-and-home against second-place St. Thomas. Friday’s game is at St. Thomas Ice Arena at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s rematch will be a 2 p.m. start at Gustavus.