Stevens Point, Wis. – The Gustavus women’s hockey team opened 2014 with a 5-2 loss to fifth-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Friday night at Ice Hawks Arena. Tied 2-2 after two periods, the Pointers scored three unanswered goals in the third to hand the Gusties their first loss of the New Year. Gustavus drops to 7-3-2 overall, while UW-Stevens Point improves to 13-2-1.
Gustavus opened the scoring in the first period when Allison Eder-Zdechlik (So., Stillwater, Minn.) scored her 10th goal of the season to put the Gusties on top 1-0 at the 12:56 mark. The goal came short-handed with an assist from Melissa Doyle (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.).
UW-Stevens Point answered with a goal two and a half minutes later to tie the score. Nicole Schaub scored on assists from Shauna Bollinger and Rachel Reynard to even the score at one apiece, which is where it would stay heading into the first intermission.
The Pointers jumped out of the gate in the second period, scoring in the first minute to take a 2-1 lead. Janel Winters put UW-Stevens Point on top thanks to a helper from Hannah Smith. The goal was just her second of the season.
Six minutes later, it was Gustavus with the equalizer, this time from Halie Gudmonson (Fy., Albertville, Minn.). Gudmonson’s fifth goal of the season came on the power play with assists from Doyle and Courtney Boucher (Jr., Hastings, Minn.). The score remained tied (2-2) headed to the second intermission, as neither team would score for the remaining 13 minutes of the second period.
The third period proved to be all Pointers. Cassandra Salmen stole the show, scoring three goals, the last of which was short-handed, to propel her team on to the 5-2 victory. Allie Tanzer and Emily Lester each recorded two assists in the period. Although the Gusties got off 14 shots, still there was no answer to be found.
Gustavus was outshot 35-32 on the night. Fifteen of its 32 shots came on five power play opportunities that led to one goal. UW-Stevens Point finished scoreless on two power play chances.
In net, Tara Hoverstad (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) suffered the loss for Gustavus after registering a career-high 30 saves. UW-Stevens Point’s Janna Beilke-Skoug recorded the win in an identical 30-save effort.
These two teams will square off once more tomorrow afternoon at ice Hawks Arena. That game is set for a 2:30 p.m., opening face off.