ST. PETER, Minn. – After sweeping Bethel last weekend in MIAC action, the Gustavus women’s hockey team is set for a top-10 battle this week against UW-River Falls. In a rematch of last season’s NCAA quarterfinal game, the No. 6 Gusties host the No. 5 Falcons at 7 p.m. tonight before traveling to River Falls, Wis. for the second game of series 2:05 p.m. Saturday. The Gusties enter the series 6-1-1 overall, while the Falcons are 6-2-1.
WEDNESDAY LIVE STATS | WATCH LIVE
SATURDAY LIVE STATS | WATCH LIVE
Last time they met: The Gusties scored twice on the power play en route to defeating the University of Wisconsin-River Falls by a score of 3-2 in a NCAA Tournament first round matchup on March 10, avenging their two regular season losses against the Falcons.
With the score deadlocked at 2-2 near the end of the third period, a power play goal from Kaitlyn Klein with 3:53 left in the game along with a strong goaltending performance by Amanda DiNella lifted the Gusties to their first NCAA Tournament victory in four years. The Gusties took an early 1-0 lead on Allie Lewis’ ninth goal of the season. Lewis crashed the net and put home the rebound after an Erica Power backhand shot from the high slot, just 6:27 after the opening faceoff. UW-River Falls tied the game 5:44 into the second frame at 1-1, where the score stood for the remainder of the period, out shooting Gustavus again 15-11. Just 32 seconds into the final period, the Falcons converted on the power play to take a 2-1 lead.
The Gusties added a power play goal of their own at the 4:39 minute mark. Power won the draw back to Kristen Cash, who took a shot from the point that redirected its way past the Falcon netminder to tie the game at 2-2. With four minutes remaining in the game, the Falcons were handed an interference penalty in which Gustavus quickly took advantage. On the ensuing face off, a fitting game-winner went to the Gusties’ Kaitlyn Klein, as she tallied her team-leading 11th goal of the season after coming back from a season-ending broken neck the season prior. With help from Emily Gustafson and Diana Draayer, Klein buried a rebound as she was placed in the perfect spot back door on the man advantage.
After the Gusties go-ahead goal at the 16:07 mark, they were able to hold on for the final minutes, securing the 3-2 win. Gustavus finished the night going 2-5 on the power play, while UW-River Falls was 1-4. The Gustavus special teams performance proved to be the difference despite the Falcons outshooting the Gusties by a margin of 40-20.