SAINT PETER, Minn. – No. 6 Gustavus women’s hockey put Friday night’s 1-1 overtime tie in the rear-view mirror Saturday as it shut out Saint Mary’s 5-0 at Don Roberts Ice Rink. The Gusties, who now have an NCAA Division III-leading 11 shutouts, improve to 14-2-1 overall and 9-0-1 in the MIAC, while the Cardinals drop to 9-7-1 overall and 6-3-1 in the league.
“I was happy with our response from yesterday,” Head Coach Mike Carroll said. “We just need to focus on the little things at this time of year moving forward. We talked last night about how it’s all about how you respond and I was really happy with the effort today. They’re having fun and a lot of good things happened top to bottom with the whole roster.”
With time winding down in the first period and the Gusties on the power play, Kayla Vrieze (Sr., Eagan) scored her first goal of the season with 39 seconds on the clock. Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) and Hailey Holland (Jr., Aberdeen, S.D.) assisted on what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Molly McHugh (Jr., Minnetonka) put the Gusties up by two 8:37 into the second with another power play goal, assisted by Holland and Vrieze. Nearly three minutes later, Brooke Power (So., Lakeville) scored her MIAC-leading 13th goal of the season on a breakaway with the help of Gabby Slykas (Sr., Frankfort, Ill.) and the Gusties led 3-0 at the second intermission.
Holland netted an even strength goal 4:28 into the third, assisted by McHugh and Press. Holland then scored her second goal of the game, and seventh of the season, at the 6:12 mark with another assist going to Press. Holland now leads the MIAC with 24 points and 17 assists.
The Gusties outshot the Cardinals 39-8 as Katie McCoy (Jr., Grafton, Wis.) made all eight saves. Gustavus went 2-for-5 on the power play while the Cardinals were 0-for-2.
Gustavus hosts UW-Superior on Tuesday night.