RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Two of the nation’s top Division III women’s hockey teams met for the first time this season Wednesday night, as the No. 1 Gusties and No. 2 Falcons faced off for the first game of a two-game non-conference series.
Despite trailing UW-River Falls 12-10 in shots through the first period, Kaitlyn Holland (So., Aberdeen, S.D.) would give Gustavus the lead heading into the locker room after one. Holland took a feed from Clara Billings (Sr., Rochester) in front of the net for her seventh goal of the year and third in her last two games.
Holland’s goal would hold through the second period, as the Gusties would even the shots on goal at 23 a piece, putting 13 on net to the Falcons’ 11. Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) stole the show in the second, staying perfect on the game, making a crucial save on a 2-on-1 Falcon rush and two saves on the late second period power play.
Brooke Remington (Jr., Scandia) nearly added her own tally just a minute into play in the final period, as her shot just barely missed the goal line, hitting off the cross bar behind River Falls goaltender Sami Miller. It would be Sophia Coltvet (Jr., Arden Hills) who would add the insurance goal with 24 seconds remaining in the game, netting a power play tally for her second of the year.
McCoy was no doubt the star of the game, posting her third-straight shutout and turning aside a season-high 32 shots between the pipes for the Gusties. She had plenty of help in front of her, as the team combined for 15 blocks, including a team-high three from Remington.
The No. 1 Gusties invite the No. 2 Falcons to Don Roberts Ice Rink this Saturday, for the second game of the two-game series at 2 p.m.