MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — It was a battle of the top two conference heavyweights in Minneapolis, as the Golden Gusties, ranked first in the conference, faced Augsburg, who sit just behind Gustavus for second in the MIAC. Earlier in the season, it took only one goal to decide a non-conference contest between the two teams. This time, one goal wouldn’t be enough to decide the game, as the Auggies defeated the Gusties 3-2 in overtime for the Gusties’ first MIAC setback.
The Gusties dominated the first period of play, outshooting the Auggies 14-4 through the first 20, but both teams headed to the locker room deadlocked at 0-0. The second period brought all the action, with the Gusties capitalizing just 0:54 into the period. A bouncing puck found its way to Sophia Coltvet (Jr., Arden Hills) on the blue line, who beat Auggie goaltender Chloe Stockinger with some help from the Auggie defense on the deflection. Augsburg responded five minutes later, capitalizing on the power play to even the score at 1-1.
Both Emily Olson (Sr., Delano) and Brooke Power (Jr., Lakeville) had chances to put the Gusties back ahead on breakaway opportunities, but were unable to put one past Stockinger. Halfway through the second, a deflection from Nora Stepan beat Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) to give the Auggies a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.
Power got her revenge in the third period to even the score, sending one past Stockinger on the power play halfway through the third. With just seconds remaining in regulation, McCoy made a save on a late 2-on-1 opportunity to send the Gusties to overtime for the first time this season.
Both teams had their fair share of chances in the extra period, including another from Coltvet that squeaked past Stockinger but didn’t cross the goal line. Stepan sealed the deal for the Auggies, scoring her second of the day and handing the Gusties their first MIAC loss of the season.
The Gustie power play, which has been all but unstoppable all season, went 1-7 overall. McCoy finished with 19 saves between the pipes, while her counterpart Stockinger stopped 37 of the Gusties’ attempts.
The Gusties return to action tomorrow, hosting the Auggies for a 2 p.m. rematch in Saint Peter.