(Photo courtesy of David Faulkner, SPX Sports.)
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The No. 5 Gustavus women’s hockey team traveled to St. Cloud Friday and took home a 4-1 victory over Saint Benedict. With the win the Gusties improve to 16-3-2 overall and 12-1-2 in the MIAC.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the first period, with neither team mustering a goal. Gustavus was able to outshoot the Bennies 15-6 with Emilia Helms-Leslie (So., Fairbanks, Alaska) holding the Saint Ben’s at bay.
In the second Gustavus was finally able to break the ice as Clara Billings (Fy., Rochester) would notch her eighth goal of the season with an assist going to Emily Olson (Fy., Delano). Gustavus would once again shut the Bennies out as they outshot the home team 18-6 in the period.
Saint Ben’s would finally have an answer in the third period as they netted the equalized 4:30 into the final frame to even things at one. It was all Gustavus from there though as Hailey Holland (Fy., Aberdeen, S.D.) would score what proved to be the game-winner at the 7:20 mark assisted by Molly McHugh (Fy., Minnetonka). McHugh would then get a goal of her own just over two minutes later as Kristen Cash (Sr., Roseville) assisted her to make the sccore 3-1. Amelia Vosen (Sr., Anoka) would then add an empty net goal late for Gustavus for the 4-1 victory.
Gustavus outshot the Bennies 48-20 in the contest with Helms-Leslie making 19 saves for her fifth win of the season.
“We got off to a fairly sluggish start,” said Head Coach Mike Carroll. “But after we got that first goal, we settled in a little bit. When they scored to even things it challenged us but we stepped up and started to play better and with more urgency and were able to take a good win.”
The two teams will be back in action tomorrow as Gustavus hosts Saint Ben’s for a 2 p.m. contest.