SAINT PETER, Minn. – After nearly a month off, the women’s hockey team will be back in action on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. contest with No. 9 UW-Eau Claire. The Gusties enter the contest 7-3-1 while the Blugolds are 8-2-2.
The Series
Tomorrow’s contest will mark the seventh all time contest between the teams with the Gusties holding a 3-1-2 advantage. The two teams met earlier this season on Nov. 3 and tied 2-2. In the contest, Amanda DiNella (Sr., Oakbrook Terrace, Minn.) made a total of 51 saves to help keep the Blugolds at bay.
Scouting the Gusties
The Gusties were last in action on Dec. 8 when they lost the back end of a series with UW-River Falls 4-0. As a team the Gusties average 2.4 goals per game on 29.5 shots while allowing just 1.6 scores per contest. On the year, Gustavus is 7-for-37 (18.9 percent) on power plays while they have successfully killed off 27-of-32 (84.4 percent) penalties. The Gusties are led offensively by senior captain Allie Stanger (Sr., Paynesville, Minn.) who has tallied 10 points on the season with six goals and four assists. First-year Kristina Press (Fy., Cottage Grove, Minn.) is the next highest point scorer for the Gusties as she has eight points on four goals and four assists. DiNella has been solid in net all year again for the Gusties starting all 11 games and making 237 saves for a save percentage of .929.
Scouting the Blugolds
The Blugolds went into Christmas break on a roll and look to continue to keep it rolling as they are 5-0-1 in their last six contests. UW-Eau Claire has been efficient on the attack this season averaging 4.0 goals per game while allowing just 1.6. They have been solid on special teams going 14-for-49 (28.6 percent) on power plays while killing 46-of-52(88.5 percent) penalties. Offensively they have a trio of players with double digit points this season with Elizabeth Bauer leading the way with 19 (4g, 15a). Courtney Wittig follows Bauer with 17 points (11g, 6a) and Holly Turnbull is right behind both with 14 (4g, 10a). Erin Connolly has started 11 games in net for the Blugolds and has made 221 saves for a save percentage of .925.