The Gustavus women’s hockey team opened its 2008-09 season by splitting its series with Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. The Gusties lost Friday night’s game 2-1 in overtime and then rallied to claim a 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon. Lynn Hillen scored twice to lead Gustavus on Saturday.
On Friday night, the Gusties jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by Mollie Carroll at 3:10 of the second period. Gustavus led 1-0 after two periods, but Adrian scored just :42 seconds into the third period to tie the score at 1-1. The Gusties managed to kill off a 5-on-3 Adrian advantage midway through the third period and then goaltender Danielle Justice came up a with a spectacular save to stop an Adrian breakaway in the final seconds of regulation play. Adrian scored at the 1:30 mark of the extra session giving the Bulldogs the 2-1 win. Gustavus out-shot Adrian 41-19, but Bulldog goaltender Dana Timm stonewalled the Gusties with 40 saves. Gustie goaltender Danielle Justice played well in her collegiate debut making 17 saves. The loss marked the fourth consecutive year that the Gusties have dropped their first game of the season.
On Saturday, Gustavus scored a power play in each period on its way to a 3-0 win. Special teams were a key in the win for the Gusties as Coach Mike Carroll’s squad went 3-for-10 on the power play, while not allowing Adrian to score on any of its seven power play opportunities. Gustavus was whistled for nine penalties in the contest, which is the most by the Gusties in 53 games dating back to December of 2006 when the squad was whistled for 14 penalties against Hamline. Gustavus jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 17:12 mark of the first period when Alyssa Saunders lit the lamp with assists from Kirstin Peterson and Alyssa Gaulrapp. Early in the second period, the Gusties extended the lead to 2-0 when Lynn Hillen scored a power play goal at the 1:29 mark with an assist from Jenny Pusch. Gustavus closed out the scoring at the 1:21 mark of the third period when Hillen scored her second power play goal of the game. Emily Klatt made her collegiate debut in the nets for Gustavus making 25 saves and recording the shutout. The Gusties held a 35-25 advantage in shots in the game.
The series marked the first ever meeting between Gustavus and Adrian in women’s hockey. Adrian started its women’s hockey program last season.
The Gusties will open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play next weekend with a series against Saint Mary’s. Gustavus will host the Cardinals on Friday night and then play Saturday’s match in Winona. The Gustavus home game on Friday night will be played at the New Ulm Civic Center (Link for information and directions). Don Roberts Ice Rink at Gustavus is currently being repaired and will not be available until sometime in late November or early December.