SAINT PETER, Minn. — There was no shortage of offense for Gustavus in its MIAC opener against St. Scholastica, as the Gusties combined for nine goals, including four in the first period, to defeat St. Scholastica 9-1 on Thursday night.
Clara Billings (Sr., Rochester) started off the scoring just four minutes into the game, netting a power play tally and her team-leading fifth goal off of a feed from Kayla Vrieze (Sr., Eagan) and Emily Olson (Sr., Delano). Kaitlyn Holland (So., Aberdeen, S.D.) would add the next two Gustie goals — just 1:08 apart from each other — to push the Gustie lead to 3-0 halfway through the first period. Lily Mortenson (Fy., Champlin) would add the icing on the cake for the first period, her second goal of the year, after assisting both of Holland’s goals.
Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) added to the scoring in the second period, netting her first of the season for a 5-0 Gustie lead. Billings, not done for the night, would add her second power play goal, helping the Gusties to seven power play goals over their first four games. Brooke Power (Jr., Lakeville) added one more to the Gustie power play total, scoring the seventh goal of the night off of a feed from Vrieze.
In addition to her power play goal, Power added a short-handed tally, the first for the Gusties on the year, for the first goal in the third period. The Saints would add one on the power play, ending the Gusties’ shutout streak that lasted nearly 237 minutes over four games. Gianna Gasparini (Fy., Lakeville) would score her first collegiate goal to respond for the Gusties — just 23 seconds later — to keep the Gustie lead at eight. Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) would finish making 11 saves on the night.
Three Gusties finished with three points, as Power and Kaitlyn Holland notched two goals and an assist and Mortenson tallied a goal and two helpers. Thursday night’s game marks the first time since 2016 the Gusties have scored nine goals in a game, with the last time being a 9-3 victory over Hamline in the 2015-16 season.
The Gusties face off against St. Scholastica for the second game of the two-game series, as they head up to Duluth for a Saturday 7 p.m. game.