RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Gustavus women's hockey team, which slipped to No. 5 and No. 7 in the DIII Hockey News and USCHO.com national rankings this week, took down the consensus No. 1 on Tuesday, Jan. 28, defeating regional rival UW-River Falls on the road, 3-2.
Gustavus (13-4-0, 8-2-0 MIAC) scored a goal in each period and fended off a late Falcon surge, finishing the non-conference series 2-1 against River Falls (15-3-2, 7-0-1 WIAC).
The Gusties started the first period off with a number of chances, two of which were inches from beating UWRF goaltender Catt Donna.
Noelle Hemr (Fy., Blaine, Minn.) had the first look of the game, making a move around a number of River Falls players before tucking the puck through the legs of Donna. Hemr beat the netminder, but a Falcon defender pushed the puck out of the crease to save Hemr's sure goal. Just a few minutes later,
Gianna Gasparini (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) rifled a shot off the post that hit Donna's back, but was once again saved just before crossing the goal line.
Eva Nelson (Fy., Buffalo, Minn.) gave the Gusties a 1-0 lead with 15 seconds to play in the first, taking advantage of a late River Falls penalty. Nelson set up the Gustie unit, which ranks fourth in NCAA Division III in power play conversion, at the point, sending a shot from the blue line that ricocheted off a Falcon player out front and into the net for the first-year defender's fourth of the year and third with the player advantage.
The home team certainly took the ice motivated in the second period, out-shooting the Gusties 32-12, including a mark of 15-4 in shots on goal. First-year
Lily Timmons (Stillwater, Minn.) was up to the challenge, though, saving all 15 attempts, including four on a trio of Falcon power plays.
The last minute of play in the period proved once more to be the Gusties' best, as
Abby Elliott (Sr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) was able to double the lead with 31 to play in the second. River Falls attempted to clear the puck away from the net of Donna following a Gustie rebound, placing it on the stick of the senior defender, who sent her shot into the low left corner for a 2-0 lead at the second intermission.
One finally got past Timmons 2:09 into the third period, as the Falcons broke into the Gustie zone on a 2-on-1, catching Timmons sliding across the crease to cut the lead to one early in the final frame.
Kaitlyn Holland (Sr., Aberdeen, S.D.) and the Gusties responded, scoring the eventual game winner 5:31 after the Falcon tally. A long breakout pass from
Lily Mortenson (Jr., Champlin, Minn.) made its way to the stick of Holland in the neutral, who walked into the River Falls zone uncontested and beat Donna over her left pad to re-extend the lead.
The Falcons weren't done yet, though, cutting the deficit back to one goal with just 2:57 to play in the third period after capitalizing on a rebound in front of Timmons, but an aggressive Gustie forecheck backstopped by the first-year goalie held the lead for the nationally-ranked victory, 3-2.
River Falls out-shot the Gusties 63-49, including a mark of 38-23 in shots on goal. The Gustie power play converted on its only opportunity, while the Falcons were stumped by the Gustavus penalty kill, going 0-for-3 with the player advantage. Faceoffs tilted in favor of the home team, 29-22.
Hemr, who hit the post once more in the second period, led her team with eight total shots. Holland had four on target, while Elliott, Hemr, and
Macy Janssen (So., Blaine, Minn.) each added three. Mortenson finished with a pair of assists to lead the point production, now with 12 points in her last five games. Timmons saved a career-high 36 shots, beating her previous mark, also set against River Falls, by three saves.
The Gusties, who have now concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule, return to conference play on Friday, heading to Blaine for the first game of the home-and-home against Bethel (9-7-1, 4-6-0 MIAC). Gustavus will host the Royals on Saturday for Alumni Day.
