SAINT PETER, Minn. - After a tightly contested first period, No. 1 UW-River Falls pushed past No. 8 Gustavus women's hockey, defeating the Gusties 5-1. The Gusties blocked 12 shots and registered 26 shots on goal in the loss.
The first period, tied 10-10 on shots, was exactly that, even. The Falcons forced three early saves by sophomore goalie Lillian Timmons (Lake Elmo, Minn.), all in a 32 second flurry to start the game, indicative of UW-River Falls' early pressure. Once the Gusties settled in, they forced three saves by the Falcons goalie, Jordan O'Kane, as well. At 9:41, the Gusties took a penalty, which has not been a recipe for success against UW-River Falls this season, who's operating at a 42.5 percent clip to date on the power play. Gustavus cleared the zone multiple times and only allowed three shots, one of which was blocked by junior
Hannah Thompson (Lino Lakes, Minn.). The Falcons got on the board at 14:04 after a screened shot fell to the stick of a Falcon forward who slid it in to take the lead. The last three minutes of action were all Gustavus, including a power play that ended just seconds before the period ended. On the power play, the Gusties had three shots, including one by senior
Grace Schuck (Bloomington, Minn.) who also had two shots just seconds later, applying pressure to UW-River Falls and tying for the most shots in the first period with three. Gustavus held the faceoff advantage as well, winning 10 of 14 faceoffs across the frame and also blocked four shots.
In the second period, the game shifted in favor of UW-River Falls, who took 17 shots on goal in the period compared to Gustavus' nine and won nine of 13 faceoffs. The first five minutes of the period was much like the first, with the Gusties forcing four saves out of O'Kane. The Gusties took their second penalty of the game shortly after and sent the Falcons to the power-play, which they scored on, via a breakaway. Three minutes later, UW-River Falls struck again, this time off of a screened shot through Gustie defenders from the right faceoff circle. The third goal of the period for the Falcons was scored two minutes later, when a Falcon found herself alone in front of the net and picked her spot.
After the intermission, the Gusties came out energized, scoring on the power play just 2:40 into the period. First-year
Talia Domschot (White Bear Lake, Minn.) played the puck in front of the net from behind the goal line, it found sophomore
Ellie Groebner (Apple Valley, Minn.), and then found the stick of Gasparini for her first goal of the season and second of her career. 1:20 later, UW-River Falls re-extended their lead back to four on the power play.
Gustavus blocked 12 shots in the affair and registered 26 shots on goal themselves. The sole Gustie goal was scored on the power-play, where they went 1-for-4 on the afternoon.
The women's hockey team will travel to River Falls, Wis. on Tuesday for the second game of the series against No. 1 UW-River Falls, where the puck is set to drop at 7:05 p.m.
