SUPERIOR, Wis. – The No. 7 Gustavus women’s hockey team opened the 2017-18 season with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against UW-Superior on Saturday afternoon. Trailing 3-2 with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation, the Gusties tied the game to force overtime and then netted the game-winner 2:23 into the extra period.
After a scoreless first period, UW-Superior took the lead with a goal at the 9:51 mark. Six minutes later, the Yellowjackets went up 2-0 on another even-strength goal, but the Gusties answered with 1:43 remaining in the period as Erica Power (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) scored shorthanded with the help of Kaitlyn Klein (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.).
Three minutes into the third period, Klein tied the score 2-2 unassisted. The home team regained the lead at the 10:48 mark, but with only 23 second left on the clock, Amelia Vosen (So., Anoka, Minn.) knotted the game at three goals apiece, assisted by first-year Elly Strunk (Blooming Prairie, Minn.). A couple minutes into the extra period, Power scored her second goal of the game to secure the victory. Vosen and Sydney Henrichs (Fy., Eden Prairie, Minn.) assisted the game-winning goal.
Amanda DiNella (Jr., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) picked up the win in goal, recording 17 saves. The Gusties outshot the Yellowjackets 37-20. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play.
Gustavus has its home opener next Saturday against UW-Eau Claire, starting at 2 p.m.