SAINT PAUL, Minn. - In a battle of two of the top teams in Region IX on Wednesday night, No. 4 nationally ranked Gustavus posted its fourth straight shutout victory in a 1-0 decision over Macalester. Gustavus extends its winning streak to six games, while improving to 7-0-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the MIAC.
The game started on Saturday afternoon but was postponed in the 22nd minute due to lightning. Picking up right where the game left off, the Gusties applied most of the pressure in the first half but went into the break scoreless.
The Scots had their best scoring opportunity with 26 minutes left in the game on a point-blank shot on goal, but
Egan Bedwell came up with a critical save to keep the game scoreless.
The game's lone goal came in the 67th minute. Following a Gustie free kick from
Rivaldo Pena to the back post,
Darren Chukel headed the ball in front of the net, which a Macalester defender attempted to clear with a header but instead
Simon Woods found the loose ball and buried it for his second goal of the season. Macalester applied some pressure in the final minutes of the game, but its last shot on goal with 1:16 left on the clock was saved by Bedwell.
The Scots outshot the Gusties 11-5 overall and 4-2 on goal, but the Gustie defense and Bedwell stopped every attempt.
The Gusties handed the Scots their first shutout loss of the season - a team that entered the game averaging 2.13 goals per game - and snapped MAC's six-game winning streak. The Gustie goal was also the first conceded by Macalester in its past four games.
Gustavus returns home Saturday afternoon to take on Hamline.
