St. Thomas 5, Gustavus 3 (Box)
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – After posting a six-goal effort in its conference opener less than 24 hours prior, the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team could not hold off the University of St. Thomas in the teams’ series finale, falling 5-3 in a game played Saturday afternoon at the St. Thomas Ice Arena. The loss brings the Gusties’ record to 2-1-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas improves to 3-1-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the conference.
St. Thomas jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after just 13 minutes of play thanks to two goals from Hannah Burns and another from Karina Marette. However, the Gusties would not go into their first intermission scoreless, as senior forward Allison Eder-Zdechlik (Stillwater, Minn.) notched a power play goal off an assist from Diana Draayer (So., Deephaven, Minn.) at the 16:55 mark to bring the score to 3-1 after 20 minutes of play.
In the second period, Gustavus jumped out of the gates early, as Erica Power (So., Lakeville, Minn.) found the back of the net off an assist from Madison Bergren (Fy., Mahtomedi, Minn.) just 1:53 in to make it a 3-2 St. Thomas lead. However, Tommie first-year Leah Schwartzman brought that lead to two again at 14:32 to make the score 4-2. Less than a minute later though, Eder-Zdechlik struck again with her second goal of the game at 15:30 to make the score 4-3 and breathe new life back into the Black and Gold going into the third period.
Unfortunately, the Gusties could not muster a goal in the final period, and the Tommies’ Kathryn Larson was able to put in her second goal of the series to secure the home team’s 5-3 victory.
Amanda DiNella (Fy., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) played her first complete collegiate game between the pipes and suffered the loss for Gustavus. The rookie is now 1-1-0 on the year after allowing all five goals and making 29 saves. St. Thomas goalie Mackenzie Torpy rebounded from her Friday night loss and earned the victory, allowing three goals and making 16 saves.
Gustavus will return to the ice on Friday, Nov. 20 when it travels to Augsburg College for a 7 p.m. game.