ST.JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict women's hockey team closes out their regular season with a home-and-home series with No. 6 Gustavus Adolphus beginning Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Dave Torrey Arena in St. Cloud, followed by a 2 p.m. tilt in St. Peter on Feb. 17.
About Gustavus
Gustavus enters the series with an overall record of 17-2-4, and sits in third in the MIAC with a conference record of 11-2-3. The Gusties are currently two points behind first place Hamline and one point behind second place St. Thomas in the conference standings. Gustavus hasn't lost a game since Jan. 13, when they were defeated in a tight 5-4 contest with St. Thomas.
Senior forward Kaitlyn Klein is the anchor of GAC's offense, leading her team with 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points on the season. Klein is second in the MIAC for goals scored, and fifth in the conference for points. Junior goaltender Amanda DiNella is second in the MIAC in goals against average (1.40) and save percentage (.933), while making the fourth most saves (391), and having the third best win percentage (.800).
Last Year
Gustavus swept the series last year when the teams met in early December. The Gusties won 3-1 in St. Peter for the first game, powered by two power play goals in the first period. CSB scored first in the second game, with
Shelby Schneider scoring off a pass from
Courtney Conlin to put their team up 1-0 after the first period. However, GAC would put up three unanswered goals in the second and third to pull ahead. CSB would add another goal five minutes into the third, but would be unable to complete the comeback and fell 3-2.
Who to Watch
Riley Schneider has proved to have the hot hand, or gloves, in the month of February for CSB. The first year forward has had at least one point in each of CSB's four games in the month. She registered a goal on Feb. 2 against Augsburg, followed up with an assist the next day, scored both of CSB's goals in a 7-2 loss to St. Thomas, and assisted on CSB's lone goal in the most recent game. Overall she has scored five goals and dished out seven assists in her debut season.
The Storyline
CSB is looking to end the season on a high note, trying to win their first game since their Jan. 11 victory over Bethel in St. Cloud. CSB has been close multiple times in that stretch, and has not been shutout since the first half of the season.
