Game Summary

ASHLAND, Wis. — It sure didn't take the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team long to get over its first loss of the season.

Just three days after having their five-game, season-opening winning streak snapped in a 5-1 loss to UW-Superior, the Cardinals regrouped and took out their frustrations on Northland, as SMU got goals from six different players en route to a 7-4 nonconference victory.

B.J. Gaustad (Portland, Ore.) scored a pair of goals and assisted on another, whlie Lenny Hofmann (Sartell, Minn.) had three assists as SMU scored more than six goals for the third time in six games.

Ryan Spencer (Winona, Minn.) and Ryan Holland (Winona, Minn.) gave SMU a 2-0 first-period advantage, scoring eight minutes apart before the game was even 10 minutes old. Northland's Jon Geiring netted the first of his three goals before the first period ended, but the Cardinals padded their lead to 5-2 after two on goals by Gaustad, Mark Zoller (Rochester, Minn.) and Justin Brigl (Apple Valley, Minn.). Gaustad and Al Schumacher (Oakdale, Minn.) completed the Cardinals' seven-goal offensive barrage with goals in the third period.

Ryne Ess (Eden Prairie, Minn.) finished with 17 saves in making his first collegiate start in goal for the Cardinals, while Northland goalie Billy Ferkol stopped 37 of the 44 shots he faced.