For the first time in program history, the Golden Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus College are women’s hockey national champions.
Gustavus’ run to the title did not come easily, as the Gusties endured the longest weekend in NCAA Division III Women’s Frozen Four history. The Gusties outlasted Plattsburgh State in two overtimes in the national semifinals on Friday before topping Frozen Four host Amherst College, 2-1, in a championship game-record three overtimes on Sunday. No other championship game in the modern era of women’s hockey had ever gone beyond one overtime.
Gustavus got on the board in the second period when first-year Lily Mortenson scored to snap the Mammoths’ streak of five consecutive shutouts. Gustavus held the one-goal lead until 1:12 left in regulation when Amherst pulled its goaltender and snuck a tipped shot into the back of the net to force overtime. The two teams then battled it out without a score for another two-plus periods before sophomore Kaitlyn Holland registered the biggest goal of her young career just 93 seconds into the third overtime period to secure the historic Gustavus victory. Gustie senior goaltender Katie McCoy made 33 saves – only ten of which came in the first two periods – and was named NCAA Tournament MVP.
The national championship is the first for Gustavus head coach Mike Carroll, who ranks as the second-winningest coach in NCAA Division III women’s hockey history with 492 career wins.
In addition to being the first national championship in program history, the Gusties’ title is also the first ever by a MIAC women’s hockey team, the first by any women’s hockey team in the NCAA’s West Region, and the first team national championship in any sport by a MIAC program since 2016.
(info courtesy of MIAC)
(photos courtesy of Gustavus Adolphus)