MOORHEAD, Minn. – No. 6 Gustavus women’s hockey scored three unanswered goals in the final 32 minutes Friday night, resulting in a 3-1 victory at Concordia. The Gusties improve to 11-2 overall and 7-0 in the MIAC, while the Cobbers drop to 6-8 overall and 2-5 in the league.
Concordia took a 1-0 lead at the 11:38 mark of the first period and carried the one-goal advantage into the first intermission despite the Gusties outshooting the Cobbers 16-2. Nearly nine minutes into the second frame, Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) took advantage of a short-handed break and tied the score with an unassisted goal. The score remained 1-1 at the second intermission.
“We had a nice visit between periods and I thought we played some of the best hockey all year in the second and third periods,” Head Coach Mike Carroll said. “We didn’t get down after giving up the first goal and our short-handed goal really gave us a boost.”
Brooke Power (So., Lakeville) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 6:26 mark of third period, assisted by Emily Olson (Jr., Delano). The Gusties added an insurance goal on a power play at the 9:31 mark as Press scored her second goal of the game and ninth of the season. Power and Kayla Vrieze (Sr., Eagan) were in on the assist.
“She works hard all week in practice and that shows during the games,” Carroll said of Press. “We’ve really leaned on that line [Press, Hailey Holland (Jr., Aberdeen, S.D.), and Molly McHugh (Jr., Minnetonka)] and they haven’t been quite as consistent recently, but tonight they flipped a switch and played really well. It was a great example for our younger players and the other lines.”
The Gusties outshot the Cobbers 42-12 as Katie McCoy (Jr., Grafton, Wis.) made 11 saves.
The two teams wrap up the series at 2 p.m. Saturday in Moorhead.