MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — It's safe to say Gustavus women's hockey is back. The Gusties scored five goals in their non-conference season opener at Augsburg, dealing the Auggies a 5-1 setback to start the season 1-0.
Sophia Coltvet wasted no time getting the team on the board, as the senior captain caught Auggie goaltender Marissa Paaske off guard with a quick shot from the point, scoring the first goal of the 2023-24 season just 1:01 into the opening period. Eight minutes later,
Brooke Power found herself one-on-one with an Auggie defender on the penalty kill, and broke free for a shorthanded breakaway. Power made a nifty move to her backhand for the the Gusties' second goal of the game, and the fifth shorthanded goal of her career.
Kalle Reed added one more before the end of the frame, picking up a rebound from fellow first-year
Kylie Scott to make the score 3-0 heading into the first intermission.
Gustavus added another goal in the opening minutes of the second period, as
Emily Olson sent a cross-ice pass to
Kylie Ligday, who beat Paaske from the point for her collegiate first on the power play. The Auggies cut the lead to three, breaking
Katie McCoy's shutout on a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the second.
Power added one more Gustie goal for good measure in the third period, getting her second of the night on an empty net tally with 20 seconds remaining in the game.
Hailey Holland finished with a team-high seven shots on goal, followed by Power with five. The Gusties narrowly outshot the Auggies, 24-23, but McCoy stood tall in between the pipes, making 22 saves on the night, including 11 in the third period.
Gustavus will enjoy next week off before entering conference play on Nov. 9, heading to Duluth to face St. Scholastica.
