WINONA, Minn. — In a span of 32 seconds, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team went from giant-killers, to just another Falcon victim.

Thirty-two seconds.

Lou Paulson and Leah Baron netted back-to-back goals 32 seconds apart early in the third period, turning a 2-1 SMU lead into a 3-2 UW-River Falls' advantage as the Falcons erupted for four third-period goals in dropping the Cardinals 5-2 Friday evening at the SMU Ice Rink.

"It's frustrating, because we showed in the second period that when we play the way we are capable, we can play with anyone," said SMU coach Terry Mannor, whose team rebounded from a 1-0 first-period lead with a pair of second-period tallies to take its 2-1 lead into the final 20 minutes. "Once they got those two goals, our heads dropped, our shoulders sagged and we just stopped playing.

"And when you're playing a team like (UW-River Falls), you can't afford to let down like that."

The Falcons wasted no time getting on the scoreboard Friday, scoring on their first shot 25 seconds into the opening period. But the Cardinals bounced back, getting back-to-back goals from Jessica Ribish (Elm Grove, Wis.) and Melissa Mondo (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) in the second period to give SMU its only lead of the game.

Paulson and Baron gave the Falcons back the lead and Kelly Jensen and Kristen Juven completed the third-period onslaught as the 10th-ranked Falcons improved to 8-3-1 overall.

"There's one thing this team can control, and it's their work ethic — regardless of whether you are winning or lose, you can control how hard you work," explained Mannor, whose Cardinals (2-6-2 overall) travel to UW-Eau Claire for a nonconference game Saturday. "And you take away that second period, and we didn't work hard. I challenged this team after the game — no more this season, win or lose, will we be outworked like we were tonight."