Game Summary

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — In the previous five games heading into Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against St. Benedict, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team had scored six goals — three in a 3-1 win over St. Catherine, and three combined in losses to Lake Forest (twice), St. Catherine and St. Benedict.

SMU's offense was in dire need of a tune-up.

And the return of their top scorer.

Melissa Mondo (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), who had missed SMU's last five games with an ankle injury, returned to the lineup Friday, giving the Cardinals a much-needed boost, collecting assists on three of SMU's four goals in its 4-2 win over the Blazers.

"Melissa played well, she certainly gave our offense a bit of a jump start," said SMU coach Duncan Ryhorchuk, whose team had scored just one goal in each of its last three losses. "It was nice to have her back in the lineup, and it was a bonus to have her contribute right away like that."

The two teams traded a pair of first-period goals, as Jenn Shire (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) and Jenna Roland (Boyne City, Mich.) scored for the Cardinals, while Amy Glover and Susan Engel tallied goals for the Blazers.

From there, however, the Cardinals took control, scoring once in a 14-shot second period — off the stick of Rachel Harrison (Racine, Wis.) — then icing the win when Emily Babcock (St. Paul, Minn.) scored midway through the third period.

Nikki Jung (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) finished with 23 saves for the Cardinals, who moved to 2-2 in the MIAC and 4-4 overall.

"Nikki and Amanda Gage (Lino Lakes, Minn.) have been playing very solid for us," said Ryhorchuk, who got a 24-save effort from Gage in Friday's 3-1 loss. "We haven't been giving them much offensive support. They are going to make the saves we need them to make, but we can't expect them to shut out every team we play — we need to score more than one goal a game."