The Gustavus Adolphus women's hockey team powered its way to the NCAA semifinals by beating UW-River Falls, 4-1, on Friday night at Hunt Arena.

Gustavus scored first at 13:18 of the first period. Jenna Christensen put home a shot from in close that beat Falcon goalie, Ashley Kuechle (Saskatoon, SASK, Battleford Sharks). Christensen scored after Kuechle stopped a shot by Meagan Wanecke. It was Christensen's fifth goal of the season and Gina DeNucci also picked up an assist.

The Gusties went ahead, 2-0, at 1:09 when Wanecke scored her sixth goal of the season off another rebound. Christensen and Maddie Bergh picked up the assists. GAC had an 8-1 lead in shots in the period

The Falcons took a minor penalty for too many players on the ice and the Gusties scored a power-play goal to take a 3-0 lead in the second stanza. Christensen scored her second of the game, and sixth of the season, with assists to Melissa Doyle and Kelsey Kennedy. About five minutes later the Falcons took another minor and once again the Gusties took advantage of the situation to take a 4-0 lead. Lindsey Hjelm scored the goal with a 35-foot slap shot that went off Kuechle's glove and into the net. Christensen and Alyssa Gaulrapp got the assists. It was Christensen's fourth point of the game. GAC had a 7-5 advantage in shots in the period.

The Falcons dominated play in the final 20 minutes outshooting GAC, 16-3. Early in the third UWRF's Kait Mason's (Eagan, MN, Eagan HS) redirect from 15 feet was kicked away by GAC goalie Danielle Justice. The Falcons went on a power play and had two shots on goal. With just over nine minutes left the Gusties took another penalty and the Falcons had three shots on goal but couldn't score. But just six seconds after the penalty ended the Falcons scored their only goal of the game. Brook Story (Warroad, MN, Warroad HS) got the goal from in close to make it a 4-1 game. It was her 12th goal of the year and Katie Flanagan (Roseville, MN, Roseville HS) picked up the lone assist.

The Falcons ended the game with a 22-18 advantage in shots on goal. Justice made 21 saves and improves to 17-3-3 overall. Kuechle made 14 saves and ends the year with a 4-1-2 record. Both teams took six minor penalties.

Gustavus Adolphus, now 22-3-3, advances to the NCAA semifinals next Friday at a site to be determined. UWRF ends its season 24-2-4.

Box Score