Parker Burman – Staff Writer
The Golden Gusties Women’s Hockey team entered a packed Don Roberts Arena Saturday afternoon for a showdown against Hamline to determine the MIAC Champion. As with many games this season, Gustavus was able to light the lamp early and often as they skated their way towards victory. Gustavus entered the game as the No.6 team in Division III and showed they were deserving of their rank after a dominating 6-1 victory over the Pipers. Overall the Gusties finished the season with a record of 22-3-2.
“Quite happy and pleased with how the season has progressed. It’s a long season and your goal as a team and a coaching staff is to have your team play its best hockey when it’s crunch time,” Coach Mike Carrol said.
Entering the game the Golden Gusties were confident and eager to show what they could do with the home ice advantage and a raucous crowd fueling them. “It was really cool. All the fans really pushed us to do better throughout the game,” Junior goalie Katie McCoy said.
“It’s so cool to look up and see so many people in the stands, especially with the whiteout you can see the whole student section in white, it was so cool to have our whole school there supporting you,” Sophomore Brooke Power said.
Gustavus dominated the opening period, although losing the opening faceoff the Gusties were quickly in the Piper zone, ripping their first shot just fifty seconds into the game. Even with the opening attack Gustavus commited a cross checking penalty to give Hamline the man advantage four minutes in.
Hamline’s man advantage did not deter the high powered Gustavus offense from scoring. Opening the scoring was Junior Hailey Holland who took advantage of a neutral zone turnover by Hamline for a one-on-one opportunity. At the 5:31 minute mark she buried her scoring opportunity to put Gustavus up 1-0 with a shorthanded goal.
“It relieved so much pressure and we just ran with it,” McCoy said.
“When she went on that breakaway, we all knew what she was going to do and as soon as we saw it go in the back of the net we jumped up, threw our hands in the air and started celebrating,” Power said.
Just over a minute after Holland’s opening goal First-year Hannah Gray buried the put-back goal off the rebound from Junior Molly McHugh’s shot, who picked up the assist. The Gusties finished the period with :49 left on the power play after an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Hamline.
Starting the second period on the power play offered several scoring opportunities for Gustavus but they were unable to capitalize before the power play expired. Prior to the seven minute mark, Hamline broke out of their own zone for a two-on-one scoring chance. Putting the puck top shelf Hamline was able to break through and cut the lead to one goal, but this would be their only score of the game.
Less than two minutes later the two goal lead was reclaimed by Power at 8:31. The cross crease one-timer was her 22nd of the season which led the MIAC. Holland and Junior Emily Olson picked up assists on the play. Gustavus maintained their pressure throughout the remainder of the period but was unable to net another goal.
Just as they had started the second period, the Gusties started on the power play after Hamline committed a cross check to end the previous period. Capitalizing on the power play, Senior Kayla Vrieze ripped a shot from high in the slot that was tipped into the net by senior Tina Press at 1:27. Power was also credited with an assist.
Seven minutes later Olson and Power teamed up to add an additional issuance goal. Olson and Power exchanged cross crease passes before Olson buried it to light the lamp and make it a 5-1 game at the 8:31 mark. This fifth Gustavus goal resulted in Hamline using their lone timeout.
With two minutes remaining in the game Hamline pulled their goalie for the six-on-five advantage as they tried to mount a comeback. Even being outnumbered on the ice did not prevent Junior defenseman Heather Ohlinger from grabbing the puck and driving to score on the empty net, for her first goal of the season.
When time expired it secured a 6-1 Gustavus victory and a MIAC title. “When I looked up at the clock and saw ten seconds left I knew what was going to happen and was so excited to throw my gloves and helmet in the air, and go do a big dog pile on Katie,” Power said.
Goalie Katie McCoy finished the game with eleven shots against stopping ten, and collected her nineteenth victory of the season, to lead the MIAC. Power finished with a three point game while both Olson and Holland had two point games in the form of a goal and an assist.