SAINT PETER, Minn. - After upsetting No. 2 Augsburg in the MIAC Playoff Semifinal last weekend, Gustavus women's hockey is set for the MIAC Playoff Championship this weekend, traveling to Saint Benedict. Saint Benedict, the No. 3 seed, moved on to the MIAC Playoff Championship after defeating the No. 7 Hamline at TRIA Rink, 4-2. 

The No. 4 seeded Gusties (15-10-2, 10-6-2 MIAC) will travel to Ritsche Arena in St. Cloud to take on the No. 3 seeded Bennies (15-7-4. 9-6-3 MIAC) with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on the line. NCAA's NPI Index has both teams below the projected at-large cut line, making this a win-or-go-home matchup for both programs. For the Bennies, this would mark their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in school history and for the Gusties, their 20th and sixth in a row. 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are sold out for the MIAC Playoff Championship, being played at Ritsche Arena at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud. Capacity is listed as 400 on the MAC's website with only one side having seating, making for a packed house on Saturday afternoon. 

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION

The 2026 MIAC Women's Hockey Playoffs will be streamed live on the MIAC Sports Network in a pay-per-view format. Individual playoff contests will be streamed for $10 each, or $25 for a "championship pass" to stream the entire tournament live. On-demand access to playoff games will be available after the NCAA Tournament concludes.

PLAYOFF APPAREL

Official playoff apparel will be available for online purchase via the MIAC Shop powered by UNRestricted MKTG. The online MIAC Shop features officially licensed short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeves, and hooded sweatshirts to commemorate the 2026 playoff tournament. Team champion apparel will be added and available for purchase shortly after the championship game.

PLAYOFF APPAREL

Official playoff apparel will be available for online purchase via the MIAC Shop powered by UNRestricted MKTG. The online MIAC Shop features officially licensed short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeves, and hooded sweatshirts to commemorate the 2026 playoff tournament. Team champion apparel will be added and available for purchase shortly after the championship game.

SEASON SERIES

The two teams played their MIAC series a month ago this weekend, on February 6th and 7th, splitting the two games. Each team won their home game, shutting out their opponent. The two teams tied on points at the end of the season in the MIAC standings with 32, but the Bennies claimed the No. 3 seed and eventual hosting rights for the MIAC Playoff Championship with one more regulation win than the Gusties. 

On Friday night in St. Cloud, the first period started off with Gustie pressure, but could not find the back of the night. Saint Benedict was able to take a bit of momentum for just over a minute in the middle of the period, but after two saves by sophomore goalie Lily Timmons (Lake Elmo, Minn.), the Gusties were able to force four more saves in a row. With three minutes left in the period, senior captain Lily Mortenson (Champlin, Minn.) was saved on an acrobatic, sprawling save to keep the score tied at zero and Timmons, the reigning MIAC Women's Hockey Defensive Player of the Week, matched wits just a minute later with an outstretched pad to send the teams into the locker room tied at zero. 

In the second period, the Bennies scored two goals, first at the 11:20 mark after an extended period of pressure and then doubled their lead with just 26 seconds left in the frame. After a clean first two periods, each team took a penalty in the last 10 minutes of the period, setting up a 4-on-4 opportunity, but neither team capitalized on the extra ice space and it proved to be the best chance of the period for the Gusties. Pulling Timmons with just under three minutes left, Gustavus was not able to find a goal with the extra attacker and Saint Benedict scored a third, giving them three points at home. 

On Saturday, the script was flipped, with Gustavus topping the Bennies, 2-0. The Gusties only allowed 12 shots on goal in a shutout for Timmons, 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 Bennies came out stronger in the second period, contributing six shots this time compared to Gustavus' seven. 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.

All time, the Gusties are 53-4-1 against Saint Benedict, including a 25-2-1 record on the road. The teams have never played in March nor have faced off in the MIAC Playoff Championship, marking Saturday's game as one of the most important in the storied history between the two programs. 

SCOUTING THE GUSTIES

Gustavus comes into the contest with a record of 15-10-2 and 10-6-2 in the MIAC. The team has struggled on the road this season, holding a 6-8-1 record when traveling to their opponents, but won in overtime last weekend in one of the toughest venues in the MIAC, Ed Saugestad Arena.  

In terms of team offense, the Gusties have scored 55 goals and have converted 16 times on 84 power play attempts (19 percent), including the game-winner last weekend. Two goals for the team have come shorthanded, three on an empty net, nine unassisted, and four in overtime. Mortenson leads the team with 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 goal contributions, while Hemr and Scott trail shortly behind with nine each. Scott has been clutch all season, leading the team with five game-winning goals, which ranks fifth in the country. Faceoffs have been another strong point for the team, where Gustavus ranks ninth in the country and first in the conference with a 56.5 percent win percentage and Mortenson ranks 18th in the country with 304 faceoff wins alone. 

Defensively, the team has given up 48 goals for a seven goal margin this season and have only allowed opponents to operate at a 15.7 percent clip (11-for-70) on their power play and average 3.3 penalties per game against the Gusties and 6.7 minutes in the plexiglass prison. The Gustie defense has kept shots away from Timmons and the goaltending collective, only allowing 21.7 shots per game and blocking another 182 shots throughout the course of the season.

This senior class is no stranger to win-or-go-home games or overtime, dating back to their freshman year. In the 2023 Frozen Four, Mortenson scored the game-winner in double overtime before scoring again in the national championship game and assisting on the championship-winning goal in triple overtime of the national championship game. 

SCOUTING THE BENNIES

Saint Benedict enters the MIAC Playoff Championship with a record of 15-7-4 and 9-6-3 in the MIAC. Home has been where the Bennies have had their most success, going 8-2-2 at Ritsche Arena this season. 

Offensively, the Bennies have scored 73 goals this season, averaging 2.8 per game. They have scored 10 times on 67 times of asking on the power play, have scored four shorthanded, and garnered three hat tricks throughout the season. First-year Helena Siska has led the offensive effort for Saint Benedict, scoring 12 goals so far this season and adding 10 assists. Three players have scored double-digit goals, Siska (12), Shae Stinnett (10), and Presley Kraemer (10). Stinnett ranks closely behind Gustavus' Scott with four game-winning goals this season, ranking first and second in the conference. 

Lexi Badali has been the defensive backbone of the Bennies, making 30 saves in the Saint Benedict shutout on Friday night. She added 37 more saves on Saturday night, holding a 0.50 goals against average across the weekend. As a team, the Bennies have only allowed 50 goals all season, but have struggled with discipline, taking 95 penalties and allowing 13 goals. Saint Benedict averages 4.0 penalties per game and 8.2 minutes per game, including one major. The Bennies have lost more faceoffs than they've won this year, winning 46.9 percent (703-for-1499). As for shooting, the team averages 27.5 shots per game, scoring on 10.2 percent, while holding opponents to a 7.1 shooting percentage clip while allowing 27 shots per game for opponents. 

The winner of the matchup Saturday will advance to the NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Tournament and will see their postseason fate come to fruition with the selection show at 7:30 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, March 8th.