SAINT PETER, Minn. - After a split with No. 2 Augsburg last weekend, the schedule got no easier for the Gusties, this time hosting No. 9 Adrian for the first game of a weekend series.
Noelle Hemr (So., Blaine, Minn.) proved to be the difference, scoring two goals just under three minutes apart in the second period to help the Gusties beat the Bulldogs, 3-1.
Friday was the first meeting between Gustavus and Adrian since January 6, 2021, a game in which the Gusties won, 3-0. The win on Friday tied the series up between the Gusties and Bulldogs at three apiece, setting up a grudge match on Saturday afternoon.
The first period, while not holding any goals for either team, was all to be anticipated for a nationally-ranked matchup, with both teams playing physical hockey in a period where the Gusties held a short advantage. With four minutes left in the first period, Adrian took a penalty, setting up the Gusties for their power-play, ranked 10th in the country and first in the MIAC, scoring 27.6 percent of the time. Adrian, though, has killed off penalties 94.6 percent of the time this season and did so in this case as well. The Gusties were able to rattle off four shots on goal on the advantage, but all were saved by Adrian goaltender Kiera Stack. Gustavus was able to control the tempo of the first frame, winning 12 of 16 faceoffs and taking 12 shots on goal, four more than the Bulldogs.
Just over a minute into the second period, Gustavus was gifted their second power-play opportunity, but Adrian held the Gusties to just one shot on goal and quickly got themselves back to even strength. Adrian went on their first power play of the night at the 6:24 mark, posing a tall task for the Gusties, facing the best power-play in the country statistically with a 37.5 percent clip. It was then that a forechecking Hemr stole the puck on the blue line and raced to the end line by herself, tucking the puck under the left shoulder of Stack to give the Gusties the lead, 1-0, at the 7:06 mark. Hemr took a shot from the left faceoff circle which was rebounded out to junior
Kylie Scott (Dayton, Minn) who found Hemr again in the same spot, leaving her to pick her desired spot, this time under the right shoulder of Stack to double the lead for the Gusties. The last 1:53 of the second period featured the Gusties' third chance on the power-play, applying pressure much like the first chance of the game, including a scrum in front of the net which involved senior
Lindsay Berggren (Shoreview, Minn.) with under five seconds to go, but the puck stayed out of the net, sending the Gusties into the locker room with a two-goal advantage with just 20 minutes to play.
Gustavus held the pressure throughout the third period as well, getting the puck to the Adrian goalie and forcing saves seven times in the first eight minutes, but the score remained deadlocked, when Adrian turned the tide. A loose puck in the corner fell to a Bulldog on the blue line, who skated in a stride and placed the puck in the top netting to cut the lead in half with just over 10 minutes to play. A penalty for body checking gave the Gusties another advantage, but Adrian proved that they pride themselves on penalty killing, holding Gustavus to just two shots this time. The penalty kill seemed to provide some extra life to the Bulldogs, who shot the puck five times in the next minute and a half and forcing the Gusties to defend in their own zone for an extended period of time, but goalie
Lily Timmons (So., Lake Elmo, Minn.) and company did not give up the lead. Adrian got their second crack at a power play themselves with just under five minutes remaining, but the Gusties killed efficiently, only allowing one shot on goal and taking precious time off the clock. After emptying the net,
Lily Mortenson (Sr., Champlin, Minn.) picked up a feed from
Gianna Gasparini (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) and
Kylie Ligday (Jr., Lake Elmo, Minn.) and tucked the puck in to seal the game and give Gustavus game one of the nationally-ranked, non-conference series.
Hemr led the Gusties on Friday night, raking in eight shots on goal and a shorthanded goal, both of which were assisted by Scott. In goal for the Gusties, Timmons registered 22 saves and a 0.957 save percentage. Mortenson and
Avery Braunshausen (Jr., Lake Elmo, Minn.) were dominant in the faceoff dot, going a combined 19-for-27 to help the Gusties win 35 out of 50 faceoffs. The Gusties peppered Stack with 44 shots on goal and Adrian blocked another 20 shots to keep Gustavus to just three goals.
No. 8 Gustavus women's hockey turns around and plays the second game of the doubleheader against No. 9 Adrian at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday before the Gusties take a small break and embark on their European Tour trip on Christmas Day.
