ST. PETER, Minn. – After nearly one month without playing a game, the Gustavus women’s hockey team is back in action this weekend for a non-conference away series at St. Norbert College. Friday’s game at the Resch Olympic Pavilion starts at 7 p.m., while Saturday’s game starts at 2 p.m. The Gusties enter the series 8-1-1 overall and in first place in the MIAC, while the Green Knights are 4-4-3 overall and in fifth place in the NCHA.
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First line success… The first line consisting of Kaitlyn Klein, Erica Power, and Diana Draayer leads the team in scoring. Klein leads the team with nine goals and 15 points, Power has a team-high eight assists along with 12 points, and Draayer has 10 points on seven goals and three assists. The first line has accumulated 37 points, accounting for nearly half of the team’s scoring (48.7 percent).
Last time they met… The Gusties started off the 2017 calendar year using all three of their goaltenders to combine for a 1-0 shutout over St. Norbert College on Jan. 7 at Don Roberts Ice Rink.
Kaitlyn Klein’s team-leading sixth goal of the season served as the game-winning goal for the Black and Gold. Klein got the Gusties on the board on the power play just 39 seconds into the second period after she posted up in the slot and put home a centering pass from Amelia Vosen, who had help from Marina Chapman.
Klein’s power play tally stood as her third goal of the season on the skater advantage, which ranked tied for the third most in the MIAC. The Gusties went 1-3 on power play opportunities and then owned a 6-1 record when recording a power play goal.
The Gustie goaltending trio of Bailey Jackson, Paige Press, and Amanda DiNella each played a period in net to combine for 14 saves. Press tallied three saves in the second period to receive the win, her first of the season.
The Gusties outshot St. Norbert by a mark of 24-14 and shut down the Green Knights’ three power play opportunities, including a crucial penalty kill with just over three minutes remaining in the third period.