ST. CLOUD, Minn. – After their game against Marian earlier in the week was postponed, the Gusties were due for some action, facing Saint Benedict for their first game since December 13. The Gustavus women's hockey team rolled to an 4-1 victory over the Bennies in their first game of 2024. The win improved their record to 10-2 overall and 7-0 in the MIAC.
Kylie Scott, who ended the first semester of her freshman year with four points in her last three games, took advantage of the team's sustained pressure in the Bennie zone to score her second of the year on a power play opportunity, giving the Gusties their first lead of the new year.
Hailey Holland added another shortly after, capitalizing on the penalty kill for her second short-handed goal in as many games and the team's third of the year. Holland stripped the puck from the Bennie defenders for her 10th of the season to give the team a two-goal advantage heading into the first intermission.
After a 13 goal season the year before,
Lily Mortenson entered the game still seeking her first of the season. The sophomore certainly made it count against the Bennies, skating the puck out of her own zone to split the Bennie defense for a picturesque breakaway goal, extending the lead to three 11:56 into the second frame. The Bennies got one back in the final frame, breaking
Katie McCoy's shutout halfway through the third period on a power play opportunity. McCoy made sure the Bennies couldn't close the lead any further, saving a solo opportunity from the MIAC Offensive Player of the Week Aurora Opsdahl 12 minutes into the third period to keep the Bennies at bay. The elder Holland sister dashed any hopes of a Bennie comeback, scoring her second of the game with an empty net tally to seal the deal at 4-1.
McCoy made 21 saves in the victory, including nine on the power play against the MIAC's fifth-ranked team. The two teams continued to build their physical rivalry, with 13 penalties called in the game. The Gusties were impressive on the offensive end, totaling 71 shot attempts to the Bennies' 37. Of the Gusties' 34 shots on goal,
Hannah Gray totaled six, while
Hailey Holland added four to lead the charge. Holland's two points were the top mark on the score sheet, while Scott, Mortenson, and Remington each had a point in the game.
The Gusties will now host the Bennies tomorrow afternoon at Don Roberts Ice Rink at 2 p.m. for their first home game of 2024.
