Game Summary

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — After erupting for eight goals — their third-highest offensive output of the season — in Tuesday's 8-2 win over Lake Forest on Tuesday, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team decided to get a bit defensive in the team's rematch.

The Cardinals only scored two goals in Wednesday's nonconference game, but two goals was more than enough as SMU — behind the 21-save shutout goaltending of Nitara Frost (North Mankato, Minn.) — shut out the Foresters 2-0.

Emily Kearns (Hopkins, Minn.) netted her team-leading 22nd goal of the season — and her fourth in two games vs. Lake Forest — at the 12:23 mark of the first period to give SMU all the offensive it would need. Laura Wyness (Chicago, Ill.) added a powerplay goal late in the second period to push the Cardinal lead to 2-0.

And it was Frost from there on, as the junior goalie posted her fourth shutout of the season and pushed her career record to 17-0-0.

"I don't think we played nearly as well as we did Tuesday," admitted SMU coach Duncan Ryhorchuk. "We got out to a two-goal lead and just kind of cruised in from there. It was good to get two more wins, but it would have been a little nicer if we could have played with a little more intensity."

Especially with two key conference games coming up this weekend.

The Cardinals (17-5-1 overall), who have now won a season-high six straight and 11 of their last 12, close out the regular season Friday and Saturday against St. Benedict. And despite the fact that the Cardinals have already locked up the No. 2 seed for the upcoming MIAC post-season tournament, Ryhorchuk wants his team heading into the playoffs on a positive note.

"These are big games for us," Ryhorchuk said of the conference series with the Blazers. "We're starting to get everything clicking, which is exactly how you want to go into the playoffs. We can't afford to play anything less than 100 percent."