RIVER FALLS, Wis. — For the third time this season, nationally-ranked Gustavus and River Falls met on the ice for a non-conference matchup. In a game of intense back-and-forth play, it was only fitting that the No. 1 Falcons and No. 2 Gusties decide their fate in overtime. And when it seemed that even overtime wouldn’t be enough to put either team on top, the Falcons netted the game-winner with 5.5 seconds remaining in the extra period.
As was to be expected, both teams battled evenly through the first period of play, each with their fair share of chances. The Gusties’ best looks came from Lily Mortenson (Fy., Champlin), who was a bouncing puck away from giving the Gusties the lead in the first period. Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) and her opposing counterpart Sami Miller were both perfect through the first, saving 10 shots each to hold the score at 0-0.
The stars aligned for the Gusties in the second period, as a 5-on-3 opportunity put the puck on the stick of Sophia Coltvet (Jr., Arden Hills) who sailed a low shot toward the Falcon net. And, as she had done in the Gusties’ win over the Falcons earlier in the season, Kaitlyn Holland (So., Aberdeen, S.D.) netted the first goal of the game to get the visitors on the board. Holland tipped Coltvet’s shot past the Falcon net-minder, tallying the Gusties’ their 30th power play goal of the season. McCoy gave the Gusties the support they needed on the back end in the second, making five saves in the first few minutes of the period and four more to close it out.
The Gusties’ 1-0 lead was foiled in the third, as a defensive zone faceoff victory by the Falcons resulted in an end-to-end play and goal for River Falls first-year MaKenna Aure, sliding one past Katie McCoy to even the score. The goal shifted the momentum to the Falcons for the remaining half of the final period, but the Gusties held their own to force overtime.
Gustavus emerged with all the energy to start the extra period, including a 2-on-1 opportunity from Molly McHugh (Sr., Minnetonka) to Brooke Remington (Jr., Scandia) that almost gave the Gusties the win over the No. 1 team in the nation. Gabby Slykas (Sr., Culver, Ind.) followed the play up with her own opportunity, taking a perfect feed in the slot for a shot that was tipped into the upper netting. The Falcons’ golden play came from senior Abigail Stow, who caught the puck on the transition and rifled it over the right shoulder McCoy to win the game with just 5.5 seconds remaining.
McCoy finished with 29 saves in the game, while Miller saved 19 of the Gusties’ 20 shots on goal. McCoy had plenty of help in front of her, as the Gusties totaled 11 blocks, including three from Remington, and two from both Slykas and Hannah Gray (So., Stillwater). The Gusties, now 16-3-0 on the season, host Hamline this Friday before traveling to TRIA Rink on Saturday to close out the MIAC series.