ST. PAUL, Minn — After managing just three goals on 49 shots in Friday’s 3-2 win over Hamline, the Gustavus women’s hockey team decided to turn up the offensive heat in the Saturday rematch. The Gusties erupted for eight goals in cruising to an 8-0 sweep-clinching victory over the Pipers Saturday afternoon at TRIA Rink in St. Paul.
The Gusties, who put 21 shots on goal in the first period the night before without scoring, found the back of the net twice in the first on day two, as Sophia Coltvet (Sr., Arden Hills) and Lily Mortenson (Fy., Champlin) opened up the game’s scoring.
And this was just a snapshot of what was to come.
Lindsay Berggren (Fy., Shoreview) scored the first goal of her collegiate career, taking a feed from linemate Kaitlyn Holland (So., Aberdeen, S.D.) in front of the net, tapping one past Piper goaltender Maddie Nickell. Berggren’s goal opened up the floodgates for the Gusties, who added three more before the end of the second period.
Emily Olson (Sr., Delano) extended the Gusties’ power play goal total to 31, taking a feed from Tina Press (Sr., Cottage Grove) and finding the back of the net over the shoulder of the Piper netminder. And, after her first shorthanded tally of the year the night before, Hailey Holland (Sr., Aberdeen, S.D.) decided one just wasn’t enough. Holland intercepted the Pipers’ power play once again, speeding into the zone to score a shorty nearly identical to her goal the night before. Holland added one more before the end of the period, just 1:58 later, giving the Gusties a 6-0 lead heading into the final frame.
Hannah Gray (So., Stillwater) and Kaitlyn Holland tacked on two more in the third, scoring within 35 seconds of each other, to push the lead to 8-0, just one goal shy of the team’s high from earlier this season against St. Scholastica.
Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) finished with 13 saves in net, earning the shutout. With the win, McCoy takes sole possession of the Gustie record for most career shutouts at 25. 11 Gusties picked up points in the victory, led by Tina Press with three, while Coltvet, Mortenson, Gray and the Holland sisters totaled two each.
The Gusties improve to 13-1-0 in conference play and 18-3-0 overall. The team returns to action next weekend, hosting Concordia for a pair of home games on Friday and Saturday.