ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 3 women's hockey completed the MIAC series sweep over Saint Benedict with a convincing 6-0 win in St. Cloud that featured five power play goals and
Lily Mortenson's (Jr., Champlin, Minn.) second hat trick of the season on Saturday night, Feb. 8.
The Gusties (17-4-0, 12-2-0 MIAC) converted on 5-for-9 power play opportunities, scoring a pair of goals in each period in the team's 17th win of the season, and 12th in conference play, while
Lily Timmons (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.) made all 24 saves for her fourth solo shutout of the season.
Emma Heyer (So., Shakopee, Minn.) scored what proved to be the game-winner 8:34 into the first period - the only non-power play goal of the game. Heyer netted her first collegiate goal after picking up a loose puck on the boards and sending it into the back of the net to give her team the 1-0 lead.
Mortenson doubled it seven minutes later, scoring the first of five power play goals after cleaning up a rebound off a shot from linemate
Noelle Hemr (Fy., Blaine, Minn.) and a subsequent attempt from fellow first-year
Ellie Groebner (Fy., Apple Valley, Minn.) for a 2-0 advantage at the first intermission.
Saint Benedict (10-8-3, 7-6-1 MIAC) put a number of opportunities on Timmons early in the second period, including a breakaway attempt that Timmons shrugged to the corner, but
Kylie Scott (So., Dayton, Minn.) shifted the momentum back in favor of the visitors, scoring her second of the season on a rebound from a
Kylie Ligday (So., Lake Elmo, Minn.) shot from the point.
Hemr scored her 10th of the year six minutes later, as she, Mortenson, and
Kaitlyn Holland (Sr., Aberdeen, S.D.) combined for a tic-tac-toe play in front of the CSB net for a 4-0 advantage in the second period, and the third tally on the power play of the game.
Mortenson completed her hat trick in the third period, scoring both on rebounds off shots from Holland to complete the series sweep, 6-0. Mortenson's goals were her 15th-17th of the season, and she now leads the MIAC in goals, assists, points, and hat tricks.
Mortenson led the squad in her four-point night with eight shots on goal to contribute to a total of 28 for the team, while Saint Benedict totaled 24 on Timmons. CSB also blocked 18 Gustie attempts, and narrowly won the battle in the faceoff circle 36-32.
The five goals on the power play were the most since the team scored five against UW-Superior in a 7-0 win on Nov. 15, 2022.
The Gusties return to the ice Thursday, Feb. 13, hosting St. Scholastica (4-17-0, 2-12-0 MIAC) at Don Roberts Ice Rink for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
