The Gustavus women’s hockey team defeated UW-River Falls 2-1 at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter on Tuesday night. Senior captain Melissa Mackley scored the gamewinner for the Gusties at 2:26 of the third period with assists from Lindsey Hjelm and Kelsey Kennedy. Gustavus goaltender Emily Klatt shut the Falcons out the rest of the way and the Gusties held on for the important 2-1 victory.
UW-River Falls jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal by Jamie Briski at four minutes into the first period. The Falcons maintained their lead through the remainder of the period and led 1-0 after the first 20 minutes of play.
The Gusties tied the score at 1-1 early in the second period when Melissa Mackley one-timed a pass from Kirsten Peterson past UW-River Falls goaltender Cassi Campbell at the 3:35 mark. It was a power play goal for Gustavus. The action really opened up the rest of the period, but neither team could score and the Gusties and Falcons went into the second intermission with the score tied at 1-1.
Mackley tallied the gamewinner for Gustavus at 2:26 in the third. It was her second of the game and fourth of the season. Both teams pushed the puck up and down the ice in the final 17 minutes of the final period, but the Gusties did not allow the Falcons to score the equalizer and the Coach Mike Carroll’s squad skated off with an important victory against the #5 rated Falcons.
Emily Klatt recorded 24 saves in goal for the Gusties. Klatt improved to 2-1-2 on the season. Cassi Campbell turned away 27 shots for UW-River Falls.
The Gusties will host Saint Mary’s University in a single, non-conference contest on Saturday at 2 pm at Don Roberts Ice Rink.