SAINT PETER, Minn. - Gustavus women's hockey responded with an emphatic 2-0 win over Saint Benedict on Saturday night after a 3-0 loss Friday. The Gusties only allowed 12 shots on goal in a shutout for sophomore
Lily Timmons (Lake Elmo, Minn.), including a shotless first period and junior
Kylie Scott (Dayton, Minn.) scored her fourth game-winning goal for Gustavus.
After a decisive 3-0 loss last night in St. Cloud, the Gusties completely dominated the first period, leading in shots on goal, 16-0 and only allowing one shot attempt by the Bennies. The Gusties had one power play opportunity, including holding the zone a few times when it seemed quite unlikely. While they kept the puck in the offensive zone, the home team struggled to get the puck to the net, only registering two shots on goal on the player advantage. Gustavus would hold a slight lead in faceoff wins too, 8-6 to contribute to the prolonged offensive pressure of the first period.
The Bennies came out stronger in the second period, contributing six shots this time compared to Gustavus' seven. The Gusties would go on their second power play opportunity of the game 6:15 in the period, but it was short-lived as Scott was called for slashing to create a 4-on-4 situation. Neither team would get a shot on goal in the special teams situation and Saint Benedict did not find Timmons on their shortened power play, sending the game back to full strength unscathed. Just past the halfway point in the period, the momentum shifted in the way of Saint Benedict, forcing three saves by Timmons and drawing a penalty by first-year
Bauer Ackerman (Bismark, N.D.). The Bennies only registered one shot, but sophomore
Ellie Groebner (Apple Valley, Minn.) also blocked a shot to kill off the penalty. Both teams were held scoreless in the second, heading the game into the third period still looking for a game winner.
Both teams came out fiery in the third period, both forcing two saves out of the netminders. At the 12:33 mark of the period, Saint Benedict was called for interference, setting up a power play opportunity. The Gusties had been operating at a 19 percent clip on the power play so far this season and were not able to find a goal on this chance, forcing four saves in a stretch with no activity for the Bennies. The forward pressure from the power play was not for nothing, with the Gusties finding the game winner just under two minutes after the power play expired. Sophomore
Eva Nelson (Buffalo, Minn.) found Scott who found linemate and fellow captain
Avery Braunshausen (Lake Elmo, Minn.). Braunshausen used a change of pace to split two defenders, drove to the goal line, and found Scott in the slot who scored before the Bennie goaltender could react. The goal proved to be the game-winner, Scott's fourth of the season and senior
Lily Mortenson (Champlin, Minn.) put the icing on the cake, scoring an empty net goal just inches from the goal line in the corner to split the series with the Bennies.
Timmons earned a 12-save shutout, her fourth of the season and third weekend in a row earning a shutout, giving the Gusties breathing room to find a late winner. Mortenson led with nine shots on goal in the second game of the series and was a part of the line of three captains, Scott, Braunshausen, and herself, all who recorded a +2 rating. The team took 39 shots on goal compared to Saint Benedict's 12 to find the winner, including a first period where they didn't allow a single shot to reach Timmons.
The women's hockey team is back in action on Thursday at 7:00 p.m., traveling to Duluth to take on St. Scholastica.
