(Photo courtesy of David Faulkner, SPX Sports.)
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – A goal in the last 27 seconds of play helped the No. 5 Gustavus women’s hockey team stay unbeaten in conference play and tie Hamline 2-2 Friday. The Gusties are now 13-2-2 overall and 9-0-2 in the MIAC, while the Pipers are 13-3-2 overall and 9-1-1 in the league.
“We didn’t start the game very well,” said Head Coach Mike Carroll. “All of a sudden we settled down a bit and started playing a little harder, and good things happened.”
Hamline got on the board first with a shorthanded goal at the 4:32 mark of the first period, as Molly Garin beat Katie McCoy (Fy., Grafton, Wis.) on a breakaway. Gustavus would end up scoring on a power play later in the period as Hailey Holland (Fy., Aberdeen, S.D.) netted her eighth goal of the season with just under three minutes to go.
The Gusties had two opportunities early in the second, as Hamline was called for slashing at the 5:40 mark and hooking at the 7:45 mark. The Pipers were able to shut down both of the penalties and keep the game tied at one. Garin got her second of the night for the Pipers as she scored a power play goal with just over a minute remaining to give Hamline a 2-1 lead after two.
The Gusties got another prime scoring opportunity with another power play at the 5:26 mark of the third, but were unable to tie things up. Gustavus left their net empty with 1:47 to play and it was the extra skater Jordyn Peterson (So. Brookings, S.D.) who tied the game at two with 27 seconds to go.
In overtime, it appeared Hamline had won with a minute and a half to go, as a goal was signaled but later called off. Neither team scored in the remaining time as they skated to a 2-2 tie.
McCoy stopped 34 of 36 shots, but saw her shutout streak end at three games. Kristina Press (So., Cottage Grove) tallied a point on the Holland goal.
“Our goalie played really well for us,” said Carroll. “It’s good to go on the road and be able to get a point in the standings”
Gustavus squares off with Hamline again tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Saint Peter.
“Hamline plays a little different style so we have to work through that,” added Carroll. “We should learn from tonight and give a good effort tomorrow.”