SAINT PETER, Minn. — The No. 2 nationally-ranked Gusties scored seven goals, including five in the first period, rolling to a 7-1 victory over the Bethel Royals Saturday afternoon.
Just one night earlier, the Gusties gave up the first goal of the game, the first time all season they had done so, and headed into the locker room down a goal. Saturday’s game told a different story, as this time, the Gusties finished the first period with five goals to the Royals’ zero.
Clara Billings (Sr., Rochester) got the Gusties started, scoring her eighth goal in as many games, taking a perfect face-off win from Lily Mortenson (Fy., Champlin) to put one behind Bethel goaltender Ashley Hess. The next three Gustie goals came within a minute of each other, as Brooke Power (Jr., Lakeville) would add another off of a break-out pass from Emily Olson (Sr., Delano).
Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) scored the Gusties’ third of the game, taking a perfect feed from Molly McHugh (Sr., Minnetonka) for a breakaway opportunity that she fired past the right pad of Hess. Rachel Weiland (So., Rice) added the next, scoring her first goal of the season, followed by Kaitlyn Holland (So., Aberdeen, S.D.) who wrapped up the first period scoring at five.
Bethel’s Brynn Swenson put the Royals on the board six minutes into the second period, but Wieland would respond, netting an unassisted tally for her first career multi-goal game. Billings would post her second of the night just six minutes later on the power play, pushing her power play goal total to six on the season.
Three Gustie goalies saw time between the pipes, with Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) making 11 saves for the Gusties in the first two periods of play. Maria Widen (So., Burnsville) and Jori Jones (Fy., Little Canada) split the third period, with Widen making three saves and Jones adding one of her own.
Both team celebrated Mental Health Awareness at Saturday’s game, as they partnered with Sophie’s Squad, a non-profit mental health organization.
Learn more about Sophie’s Squad
The Gusties, now 8-0 and 4-0 in conference play, are off until Dec. 2, when they host the Saint Mary’s Cardinals for a 7 p.m. MIAC matchup.