RIVER FALLS, Wis. – In a back-and-forth affair Saturday afternoon, No. 6 Gustavus women’s hockey dropped a 6-5 decision at No. 5 UW-River Falls. The Gusties fall to 7-2 overall while the Falcons improve to 10-1.
UW-River Falls jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with the first goal 4:46 into the game and the second less than two minutes later on a short-handed breakaway. It didn’t take long for the Gusties to answer, though, as Kaitlyn Holland (Fy., Aberdeen, S.D.) scored at the 11:10 mark with the help of Steph Anderson (Sr., Blaine) and Clara Billings (Jr., Rochester). The score remained 2-1 at the first intermission.
Gustavus took advantage of a power play immediately to start the second as Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) scored 25 seconds in, assisted by Molly McHugh (Jr., Minnetonka) and Hailey Holland (Jr., Aberdeen, S.D.). The Gusties then gained their first lead of the series at the 13:00 mark as Brooke Power (So., Lakeville) scored a power play goal, unassisted. Less than two minutes later, Power scored again, this time an even strength goal with the help of Emily Olson (Jr., Delano) and Billings.
The Falcons got a goal back with 7:34 left in the second and the score remained 4-3 Gustavus at the second intermission.
River Falls quickly tied the game 45 seconds into the third period on a power play and took a 5-4 lead at the 14:04 mark. The Falcons then went up 6-4 with 8:31 left in the game. Press gave the Gusties life with a breakaway goal at the 18:35 mark but the Falcons were able to hold on for the win.
Katie McCoy (Jr., Grafton, Wis.) suffered the loss after making 18 saves. The Gusties outshot the Falcons 28-24. Both teams went 2-for-2 on the power play.
Gustavus now breaks until January when it hosts Adrian on Jan. 6