Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — After a rather sluggish opening four games — in which the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team managed just three goals and were shutout twice en route to an 0-3-1 record — the Cardinals' offense finally showed some signs of life Friday evening in the team's MIAC opener against Hamline.

Sort of.

The Cardinals peppered the Hamline net with 48 shots — but still managed just three goals.

Three goals, however, was more than enough as SMU cruised to a 3-0 victory, snapping that season-opening four-game winless streak.

"It's nice to finally get that first win," admitted SMU coach Duncan Ryhorchuk. "But I wouldn't say we played as well as we are capable of, either.

"Offensively, we just are not bearing down and shooting the puck to score," continued Ryhorchuk, whose team outshot Hamline 36-10 through the first two periods, but still managed just a 1-0 advantage. "We're taking a lot of shots, but we just aren't converting the way we need to."

Tennie McCabe (Rochester, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board early, netting her first goal of the season at the 6:41 mark as she banged a rebound past Hamline goalie Rachael Young, who stopped 24 of SMU's 25 first-period shots.

That, however, would be all the offense the Cardinals would generate through two periods, leaving Ryhorchuk a bit concerned about the final outcome heading into the game's final 20 minutes.

"I thought we totally dominated play, but it was still just a one-goal game," Ryhorchuk said. "When you put 36 shots on goal (through two periods), you expect to score more than once."

SMU made the most of their 12 third-period shots, getting goals from Beth Zubrzycki (South St. Paul, Minn.) and Monica Deringer (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) before the period was half over.

Nitara Frost (North Mankato, Minn.), making her first start of the season, stopped all 17 Hamline shots she faced for the shutout.

"Our goal coming in was to play all four lines and get everyone to contribute, and we were able to do that, so I'm happy," Ryhorchuk said. "Now, hopefully, we can build on this."