ST. PAUL, Minn. – The No. 9-ranked Gustavus women’s hockey team used goals in each of the first two periods and held on late to earn a 2-1 win at Hamline University Saturday afternoon, clinching the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship.
The Gusties finish the regular season going unbeaten in their last 13 games to post an overall record of 17-5-3, and 13-2-3 in MIAC play. Gustavus will receive the No. 1 seed in the MIAC playoffs with its 14th regular season conference title, the 11th in the last 13 years – the last coming in 2014-15.
Posting two shutout wins prior to today’s game, the Gusties held Hamline scoreless throughout the first two periods to go eight-straight periods without allowing a goal.
“It was a battle,” said Head Coach Mike Carroll. “We got off to sort of a slow start and Hamline made a really nice push. Amanda DiNella (So., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) was really up for the challenge, she made some great saves in the first period. We settled down in the locker room and played much better in the second.”
Going into the final frame, Gustavus held a 2-0 lead after notching goals in each of the first two frames. After going six games without recording a power play tally, Diana Draayer (Jr., Deephaven, Minn.) was able to convert on the man advantage with help from Kaitlyn Klein (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) near the end of the first period. The goal stood as her sixth goal of the season and her fifth in the last six games.
Hamline outshot the Gusties by a margin of 11-8 in the first period before the Gustavus battled back to outshoot the Pipers 21-5 in the second. The game-winner came at the 8:26 minute mark of the second period. Marina Chapman (So., South Haven, Minn.) scored unassisted to give the road team a 2-0 lead heading into the final period.
The Gustavus two-goal lead was cut to one at 12:29 in the third, when Darby Dodds scored on the power play to put the Pipers on the board.
“You have to hand it to Hamline, they got that power play goal so we had to try to hunker down and hold the fort,” Carroll commented. “The kids did a good job and I think we really learned a lot of things.”
DiNella stood tall in net, making 22 saves to record her 12th win of the season.
“There were a lot of factors that were unique to our team going into the season,” Carroll said. “For the returning players, how the season ended up last year, and the new players trying to get acclimated. Leadership really continued to develop throughout the season it seemed like things just started clicking. They have put the work in and it is fun to see as a coach that they have continued to improve. We will enjoy this today, but hopefully we have a lot of hockey ahead.”
The Black and Gold receives the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye for the MIAC playoffs. The Gusties will host the No. 4 seeded St. Thomas or No. 5 Hamline a week from today at Don Roberts Ice Rink in a semifinal matchup at 2 p.m. For more information, visit the MIAC Championships Page.