Box Score Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — Terry Mannor has been waiting all season for his Saint Mary's University women's hockey team to put together a complete, 60-minute game.

And after their performance Friday evening against Saint Benedict, Mannor will have to wait at least another 17 hours.

Despite a lackluster second period, in which SMU managed just three shots on goal — and none until the 13:20 mark of the period — the Cardinals still managed to keep their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record unblemished, holding off a late Blazer rally to beat CSB 2-1 at the SMU Ice Arena.

"We haven't played a complete game yet this season, so I guess it shouldn't be much of a surprise that we didn't tonight," said Mannor, whose team moved to 2-0-1 in the MIAC, while also improving to 2-3-2 overall. "For some reason, we have to have a 20-minute lapse. I don't know what it is, but we can't play three complete periods."

Fortunately for Mannor, one Cardinals did put together three complete periods — goalie Nikki Jung (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.).

Jung came within 1:35 of notching her first shutout of the season and 11th of her career, as the SMU senior stopped the first 22 shots that CSB sent her way.

"Nikki played very well, she made some big saves, especially in the second period, that kept us in the game," said Mannor, whose team was outshot 10-3 in the second period and 24-22 for the game. "We dominated play in the first and third periods, but Nikki kept us in there in the second."

Laura Mueller (St. Paul, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board at 16:02 of the opening period, beating CSB goalie Sarah Zweber for her third goal of the season. Melissa Mondo (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) made it 2-0 with her team-leading fifth of the season with four minutes remaining in regulation, before Stephanie Kendrick got the Blazers on the board two minutes later.

"We did what we had to do, that's the bottom line," said Mannor, whose team will host the Blazers against Saturday at 2:05 p.m. "We need to get that complete, 60-miknute effort (in Saturday's rematch) — if we don't, we could be in trouble."