ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s hockey team continued to take advantage of opponent penalties on Saturday when it scored two power play goals to earn a 2-0 victory over the College of Saint Benedict at St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex. The Gusties have now won seven straight games dating back to Jan. 10, and remain unbeaten in MIAC play at 11-0-1 and hold a 15-2-2 overall record. Saint Benedict falls to 4-6-2 in the MIAc and 5-9-2 overall with the defeat.
Gustavus wasted no time getting itself on the board when it took advantage of the Blazers’ second and third penalties, getting goals from Carolyn Draayer (Sr., Deephaven, Minn.) at the 12:43 mark and Katie Aney (Fy., Rochester, Minn.) at the 13:26 mark in the first period. The goals were the second in as many games for both Draayer and Aney and Draayer now leads the team in goals scored with 10, while Aney has six on the season. Laura Johnson (Fy., Chanhassen, Minn.) was credited with the assist on Draayer’s goal, while fellow first-years Rachel Skoglund (Forest Lake, Minn.) and Erica Power (Lakeville, Minn.) were each credited with an assist on Aney’s.
Lindsey Hibbard (Jr., Princeton, Minn.) notched her sixth shutout of the season and third in a row, playing 59:52, making 17 saves and improving her record to 11-2-2 on the year. Jenna Trout suffered the loss for Saint Ben’s after allowing the two goals and making 36 saves to see her record drop to 4-9-2 on the season.
Gustavus held its opponent to under 20 shots for the seventh game in a row, as it outshot the Blazers 38-17. The Gusties also held a firm advantage in face-off wins, as they garnered 36 to Saint Ben’s 21. Aney was especially good for the Gusties in the face-off circle, as she won 9-of-10 possible draws.
The Gusties will be back on the ice next weekend when they take on St. Catherine University in a home-home series beginning Friday evening in St. Paul at 7 p.m. Gustavus will host game two on Saturday at Don Roberts Ice Rink in a 2 p.m. game.