Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's hockey team hadn't played a game since Dec. 6 when they took the ice for Tuesday's nonconference game against UW-Eau Claire.

Sixty minutes later, you would have thought the Cardinals hadn't taken any time off.

Emily Kearns (Hopkins, Minn.,) scored two goals, and Aja Walters (Fairmont, Minn.) and Kate Williams (Minnetonka, Minn.) each chipped in a goal and an assist, as SMU pushed its winning streak to seven straight with a 5-2 win over the Blugolds at the SMU Ice Arena.

UW-Eau Claire actually got on the scoreboard first, as Megan Oswall beat SMU goalie Amanda Gage (Lino Lakes, Minn.) at the 10:54 mark of the first period. The Blugolds' lead, however, was short-lived, as Melissa Mondo (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) scored two minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. Williams followed up two minutes later to give SMU the lead for good at 2-1.

Kearns and UW-Eau Claire's Christa Hubert exchanged second-period goals, before SMU put the game out of reach with back-to-back goals from Walters and Kearns three minutes apart midway through the final period.

The Cardinals, who improved to 7-1-1 overall — and have not lost since a season-opening 3-2 setback to Lake Forest — return to conference play this weekend, as they play host to St. Benedict on Friday (7:05 p.m.) and Saturday (2:05 p.m.).