SAINT PETER, Minn. - After a shaky first 10 minutes, the No. 14 Gusties were able to reset and put up a stellar defensive performance, with sophomore goaltender Lily Timmons (Lake Elmo, Minn.) getting her second shutout in a row and the team blocking 13 shots. Kylie Scott's goal in the second period proved to be the winner, her second game-winning goal in a row.

The first period of the weekend was controlled mostly by Bethel, who used an early power play to establish themselves in the game, take the momentum, and force three saves by Timmons. Seconds after the power play, the Royals hit the pipe and a subsequent timeout by head coach Mike Carroll followed to reset after the first 10 minutes. After the timeout, the Gusties looked like a new team, firing the next four shots of the goal and soon after went on the power play for the first time. 

The Gustavus power play, sitting at 17th in the country with a 21.2 percent operating percentage coming into the game, had two quality shots on goal during their first opportunity. The first came by senior Lily Mortenson (Champlin, Minn.) who forced an outstretched save and just seconds later, junior Kylie Scott (Dayton, Minn.) and Mortenson combined to give sophomore Kaitlin Roberts (Hugo, Minn.) a high-quality chance in the slot, but the shot was saved. Bethel held a slight advantage in shots on goal after 20 minutes, 9-7 and Gustavus held firm control of the faceoff dot, winning 8-of-11. 

The second stanza proved to be more in the favor of the Gusties than the first, dominating with 14 shots on goal to Bethel's six and winning 19 of 27 faceoffs. Gustavus went on the power play for the first time in the period just 3:21 in, with junior Macy Janssen (Blaine, Minn.) drawing a tripping penalty. The Gusties did not convert, but forced two saves out of the Bethel goalie. Just seconds after the power play expired, Mortenson was whistled for body checking, but the Gusties killed off the second penalty of the game and Timmons made two saves. After both penalties, the Royals elected to take their timeout, but it proved ineffective, as the Gusties scored just over a minute later. 

The captains line of Mortenson, Scott, and junior Avery Braunshausen (Lake Elmo, Minn.) all held a part in the goal, with Scott burying a shot off a pass from behind the goal line by Braunshausen and Mortenson. Gustavus went on their third power play of the game with just over four minutes left and fired three shots on goal, but could not find the back of the net to double their lead and went to the locker room up 1-0 on the Royals. 

The pace of the third period was a step higher than the first two frames, reflected by Bethel's five shots in the first four minutes of the period, which were all blocked by defenders Kylie Ligday (Jr., Lake Elmo, Minn.) or Grace Bailey (Fy., White Bear Lake, Minn.) besides two. Four penalties were called in the span of 30 seconds shortly after, which both teams killed off after coincidental penalties kept the game at 4-on-4. Gustavus was able to put the Royals on their heels with under 10 minutes left in the game, forcing an icing after a long stretch of sustained pressure. The Royals took a penalty with 35 seconds left for slashing, but would hold the puck in their own offensive zone until the final horn, forcing two saves in a scrum from Timmons to wrap up her second shutout in a row.
Bethel took 43 shots, but only 20 reached Timmons as the Gusties blocked 13 shots, well dispersed between 10 players. Mortenson led with five shots on goal and went 8-for-9 in the faceoff circle, followed closely behind by first-year forward Talia Domschot (White Bear Lake, Minn.) going 9-for-11 in the dot. Gustavus dominated in team statistics, taking 26 shots compared to Bethel's 20, won 37 of 53 faceoffs, and blocked 13 shots. The Gusties went 0-for-5 on the power play, but also held the Royals to an 0-for-3 clip.

The No. 14 ranked Gustavus (9-7-2, 6-3-2 MIAC) women's hockey team is back in action at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, wrapping up the weekend series with Bethel (8-8-2, 2-7-2 MIAC) at the National Sports Center. 
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