SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s hockey team hosted Bethel Friday night and took down the Royals by a score of 4-0. With the win the Gusties move to 6-1-1 and 4-1-0 in the conference while the Royals fall to 1-7-1 overall and 0-4-1 in conference play.
“For a first game back from Thanksgiving we did pretty well overall,” said coach Mike Carroll. “We created a lot of opportunities and I think we missed a few chances early but all in all I’m really pleased with our efforts. We were able to play four lines all game and a lot of kids got some ice time and getting Paige [Press] (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) in there was good too.
Gustavus got the scoring started at the 7:18 mark when they capitalized on a power play and Allie Stanger (Jr., Paynesville, Minn.) deflected a shot by Kayla Vrieze (Fy., Eagan, Minn.) in for the score. The deflection goal is the second for the Gusties in the past three games.
“We’ve really been working hard on that, just trying to get in front and take the eyes away from the goalie so it’s good to see it produce results,” Carroll said.
On Stanger’s deflection goal, Vrieze and Laine Fischer (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) both were credited for an assist. The Gusties tacked on another goal at the 18:56 mark when Stephanie Anderson (Fy., Blaine, Minn.) found the back off the net off assists from Grace Schulte (Fy., Little Falls, Minn.) and Jamie Byrne (Fy., Delano, Minn.).
The Gusties got off to a good start in the second period as well when Kristina Press (Fy., Cottage Grove, Minn.) scored her fourth goal of the season at the 7:29 mark with assists going to Lilia Scheid (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.) and Gabby Slykas (Fy., Frankfort, Ill). With nobody scoring the remainder of the second period, Gustavus would start the third period off on the right foot as Vrieze found the back of the net with an unassisted power play goal to give the Gusties a 4-0 lead that would holdout for the victory.
Amanda DiNella (Sr., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) got the start in net for the Gusties and made six saves in just over 46 minutes of action and Paige Press played the rest of the way making seven saves.
The Gusties will travel to Blaine, Minn. tomorrow to take on Bethel at 2 p.m.