Box Score

Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — There were plenty of firsts at the Saint Mary's University Ice Arena when the Cardinal women's hockey team played host to Finlandia.

* It was the first game of the year for the Cardinals — and the first-ever collegiate varsity game for the Lions.

* Melissa Mondo (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) scored the first two goals of the season for SMU, while Sara Sleik netted the first goal in the history of the FInlandia program.

* And, most importantly, the Cardinals won their season opener for the first time since the start of the 1999-2000 season, as SMU rode Mondo's two second-period goals to a 2-1 nonconference win.

"It was pretty obvious that we had a few first-game jitters, but we aren't going to use that as an excuse for the way we played," said SMU coach Duncan Ryhorchuk, whose team had lost four straight season openers heading into Friday's game. "I don't think that was our best performance by any means, but the bottom line is, we came away with a win, and that's as important as anything."

After a scoreless first period, Mondo put the Cardinals on the board six minutes into the second period, tipping in a shot by teammate Jenn Shire (Anaheim Hills, Calif.). The lead was short-lived, however, as Sleik stole the puck at center ice and broke in alone on SMU goalkeeper Nikki Jung (Inver Grove, Heights, Minn.), beating the SMU goalie with a wrist shot in the upper left-hand corner two minutes later.

It was Mondo to the rescue seven minutes later, as the sophomore — the Cardinals' top returning scorer from a year ago (15 goals, 17 assists, 32 points) — tallied a powerplay goal at the 15:32 mark to give SMU the lead for good.

"You've got to give Finlandia a lot of credit, they are a well-coached team and they worked hard from start to finish," said Ryhorchuk, whose team plays host to the Lions again Saturday afternoon. "I think maybe we looked past them a little bit, considering they are a first-year program and all.

"But that won't happen again, that's for sure."