RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Gustavus women’s hockey erased two deficits Saturday to upset No. 2-ranked UW-River Falls 5-3 in an NCAA quarterfinal game. The Gusties, now 24-3-2 overall, advance to the national semifinals where they will take on Plattsburgh State at 2 p.m. CST Friday at Middlebury College. The winner will take on the winner of Middlebury vs. Elmira for the national championship next Saturday. The remainder of the national tournament will be played in Middlebury, Vt.
UW-River Falls came out firing right out of the gate scoring the first goal just 1:05 into the game. After a back-and-forth battle with both teams holding time in the other’s zone, Jordyn Peterson (Sr., Brookings, S.D.) found herself open with the puck in the left circle, fired a shot, collected the rebound, and scored the put-back goal at the 12:09 mark. And with three minutes remaining in the first, Madigan Goldsworthy (Sr., Chaska) intercepted a pass at the Falcon blue line and sniped in the go-ahead goal for a 2-1 Gustie lead.
Nearly six minutes into the second, the Falcons netted the equalizer on a one-timer from the blue line and then regained the lead on a rebounded goal with 11:17 left in the second. The Gusties took advantage of a power play as Clara Billings (Jr., Rochester) tied the game at 3-3 at the 10:49 mark, assisted by Peterson and Hailey Holland (Jr., Aberdeen, S.D.). With just 1:42 left in the second, Goldsworthy found herself on another breakaway up the left side and buried her second goal of the game for what proved to be the game-winner. Brooke Power (So., Lakeville) and Sophia Coltvet (So., Arden Hills) were credited with the assists and the Gusties led 4-3 after 40 minutes.
As the physicality of the game continued to intensify as the clocked continued to wind down in the third, UW-River Falls was whistled for two body checking penalties within one minute of each other to put the Gusties on a 5-on-3 advantage. Although the Falcons were able to withstand the 5-on-3, the Gusties cashed in on the remainder of the power play as Holland scored a critical goal with 4:34 left in the game. Molly McHugh (Jr., Minnetonka) and Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) assisted on the insurance goal.
With an empty net and the Falcons on the power play in the final minute of the game, the Gusties laid out their bodies to block shots and hold on the for the win.
Katie McCoy (Jr., Grafton, Wis.) made a number of impressive saves and totaled 28 in the game. The Gusties were outshot 31-27 but the penalty kill stood the challenge and went 3-for-3 on the kill. The Gusties were 2-for-4 on the advantage.
Gustavus is making its ninth NCAA semifinal appearance where they have placed fourth five times and third three times. The Gusties have never played in the NCAA championship game.