Game Summary

RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Saturday afternoon at the SMU Ice Arena, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team put together one of its best performances of the season, as the Cardinals blanked UW-Eau Claire 3-0, snapping a two-game losing streak.

In a season that has seen its share of ups and downs, it was an effort that allowed SMU coach Duncan Ryhorchuk to go to sleep with a smile on his face.

Twenty-four hors later, however, the Cardinals' effort against UW-River Falls will be giving Ryhorchuk nightmares.

UW-River Falls scored 19 seconds into the first period and never let up, erupting for eight goals en route to an 8-1 nonconference win over the Cardinals.

Lou Paulson kicked off the Falcons' offensive show, beating SMU goalie Amanda Gage (Lino Lakes, Minn.) before most of the 114 in attendance had even found their seats. Kelly Hurley and Lou Paulsen would also score in the game's first period — with Paulsen's coming with just three seconds remaining — as UW-RF headed into the locker room with a 3-0 first-period advantage.

Both teams traded second-period goals — SMU's coming off the stick of Madeline Loftus (Parsippany, N.J.) — but the Falcons any hopes the Cardinals may have had of mounting a third-period comeback, as UW-RF scored four times in the final 20 minutes in handing SMU's its worst defeat since a 9-0 loss to Gustavus on Dec. 13, 1998.

Gage finished the game with 39 saves as UW-RF held a commanding 43-23 edge in shots on goal.

The Cardinals (7-10-0 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Thursday, when they play host to Bethel in a 7:05 p.m. game.