ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s hockey team opened its 2017-18 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference slate with a 4-1 victory over St. Olaf College Friday evening at Don Roberts Ice Rink, led by a two-goal performance from Kaitlyn Klein (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.). The win moves the Gusties to 2-0-1 overall and 1-0 in the MIAC, while the Oles drop to 1-2-1 overall and 0-1 in the league.
With just under five minutes remaining in the first period, Laura Johnson (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.) netted her first goal of the season courtesy of a power play, putting in a centering pass from Klein and Sydney Henrichs (Fy., Eden Prairie, Minn.). Leading 1-0 early in the second, Klein tallied her first goal of the night with the help of Erica Power (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Amelia Vosen (So, Anoka, Minn.).
St. Olaf ended the shutout at the 9:05 mark of the second with a power play goal of their own, but the home squad grabbed a two-goal advantage 12 seconds later with an unassisted goal off the stick of Diana Draayer (Sr., Deephaven, Minn.), her second of the season. Draayer intercepted an Ole clearing attempt and took a nice shot, using the defender as a screen.
Klein notched her second goal of the night and team-leading fourth of the season, assisted by Power and Kristen Cash (So., Roseville, Minn.) at the 8:44 mark of the final frame and the Gusties held on for the three-goal difference.
Amanda DiNella (Jr., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) made 20 saves in the complete game effort. The Gusties nearly doubled the Oles in shots, 41-21. Another stark advantage for the home squad was the battle on the dots, as the Gusties won 40-of-55 faceoffs.
Gustavus and St. Olaf complete the regular season series at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Northfield, Minn.