SUPERIOR, Wis.: There's no scheduling pushovers to start the season for Yellowjacket head women's hockey coach Dan Laughlin.

Coming into 2018-19, the Yellowjacket bench boss was extremely enthusiastic about his charges, and rather than let them get their feet wet he threw them directly into the fire to start the season. Saturday at Wessman Arena the Yellowjackets hosted Gustavus, a longtime M.I.A.C. powerhouse that has made numerous appearances in the N.C.A.A. tournament. The two teams have a long history - you'll remember it was the Gusties the Yellowjackets defeated when they made their one and only appearance at the N.C.A.A. Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championships in 2008.

And the latest chapter in the history book played out much the same way as some of the previous contests. In a tight-checking affair offense was tough to come by, but the visiting team found a way to generate most, scoring just past the midpoint of the third period to pick up the 2-1 win over the Yellowjackets.

Gustavus opened the scoring in the first period when Jamie Byrne carried down the left wing and drove the net hard from the bottom of the circle. Her first shot was turned aside by Yellowjacket goaltender Catherine Johnson (Lakeville, Minn./St. Paul Academy), but Byrne stayed with the play and pushed her own rebound home to make it 1-0 at 14:50 of the first period.

The Yellowjackets came out with a sense of urgency in the second period, putting the Gusties on their heels from the outset. They earned the equalizer early in the frame when Amanda Sergent (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) picked up a rebound in the slot and ripped a shot past Gustavus goaltender Amande DiNella. Jenna Byfuglien (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) and Jenna Curtis (Webster, Wis./Webster) assisted.

It stayed that way until the teams skated past the midpoint of the third. Gustavus was applying pressure in the Yellowjacket zone and pulled ahead 2-1 when Allie Stanger put a shot past Johnson.

As the time ticked down in the period the Yellowjackets began to apply more pressure, and had a handful of prime scoring chances in the final minute, but the Gusties held on and picked up the win in the season opener.

Johnson made her first start as a Yellowjacket after transfering to UW-Superior from Minnesota Duluth. The junior was sharp, making 32 saves for the Yellowjackets. At the other end DiNella made 21 stops for Gustavus.