(Matt Berkner photo, Gustavus Sports Information)
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s hockey team won big during its regular season finale Saturday afternoon at Don Roberts Ice Rink, winning 7-1 over the College of Saint Benedict for the series sweep, on senior day.
With a St. Thomas victory at Hamline, the Gusties and Tommies share the MIAC regular season title, each with 29 points. Gustavus finishes its regular season with 19-2-4 overall record and 13-2-3 conference mark with its 15th league title in program history and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs as the Tommies are ineligible.
Five Gusties registered at least two points during the team’s largest win of the season, while six different scorers gave the home team the 7-0 lead through the first 40 minutes. Erica Power (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Kaitlyn Klein (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) led the team with three points each. Klein tied a career-high with three assists, while Power’s two goals and one assist put her at the 100-point mark for her career.
A great start gave the Black and Gold the early advantage, jumping out to a 4-0 lead heading into the second intermission, outshooting the Blazers by a margin of 22-3.
Gustavus scored its first three goals with minimal time differences, each right around the blue paint. Power got the scoring started at 9:15, while Laine Fischer (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) added another just 37 seconds later. Minutes later, Taylor Nelson (So., Plymouth, Minn.) slammed home a back-door pass from Katy Fuller (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.), and Sydney Henrichs (Fy., Eden Prairie, Minn.) posted a power play goal in the final minute of the first frame.
The Gusties kept the pedal on the gas on the second period, extending their lead with three more goals. Power picked up her second of the game just over four minutes in, followed by a Diana Draayer (Sr., Deephaven, Minn.) goal. Amelia Vosen (So., Anoka, Minn.) then posted the team’s second power play tally of the game, collecting a rebound off a Kristen Cash (So., Roseville, Minn.) shot from the point.
Bailey Jackson (So., Chaska, Minn.) and Paige Press (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) relieved Amanda DiNella’s (Jr., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) 10-save performance after two periods. The Blazers scored their sole goal of the game on the man advantage at 13:27 of the third, as a one-timer slid past the five hole of Press.
“Every year we’re going to lose seniors, and they’re the legacy to the program,” Head Coach Mike Carroll spoke on this year’s senior class. “All six of them have contributed in so many different ways and have really set the table to continuing the growth of our program and they will always be a major part of it. I’m just happy for the them that we are able to play some more hockey, and even more importantly at home.”
Finishing the regular season with seven consecutive wins, the Gusties will host postseason matchups at Don Roberts Ice Rink throughout the conference playoffs as the top seed. Gustavus will host a semifinal game versus the No. 4/5 seed next Saturday at 2 p.m.