Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — After six straight games decided by one goal or less, Saint Mary's University women's hockey coach Duncan Ryhorchuk deserved a break.

He deserved a game that was decided early — rather than in the game's final seconds, or not at all.

Friday evening at the SMU Ice Arena, Ryhorchuk got just that.

SMU erupted for three third-period goals, breaking open a one-goal game and giving the Cardinals a 5-1 victory.

The Cardinals, who entered the game with a 2-1-3 mark in their last six games — including a 3-2 win over St. Benedict, a 4-3 win over Bethel, a 1-0 loss to Gustavus, 2-2 ties to Lake Forest and St. Catherine, and a 3-3 tie with Lake Forest — jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes on Friday.

Emily Kearns (Hopkins, Minn.) netted the first of her two goals midway through the period and Josie Nechodom (Oakdale, Minn.) followed up with her first of two seven minutes later.

Bethel got one back with the only goal of the second period, but a three-goal third-period outburst — including goals from Nechodom, Kearns and Christy Hicks (Bloomington, Minn.) — gave SMU a commanding cushion.

And it allowed Ryhorchuk to breath a little easier.