ST. PETER, Minn. — Over the past three years, Gustavus has had the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team's number — literally

Heading into Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game, the Gusties had won all seven meetings during that three-year span, outshooting SMU 334-80 and outscoring the Cardinals 36-4.

But this was a new year, and SMU head coach Terry Mannor was hoping things would be different this time around.

Unfortunately for SMU, when the Cardinals left Don Roberts Arena Friday, the numbers hadn't changed one bit: A 56-11 advantage in shots on goal and a 4-0 edge in goals scored.

"There's no question they are a good team — they stickhandle well, they skate well and they anticipate the play well," said SMU coach Terry Mannor, whose team has not beaten the Gusties since the 2001-02 season, when the Cardinals knocked off the Gusties 2-1 in the championship game of the MIAC Tournament. "But I also believe that if we play a complete, 60-minute game — and get a few bounces to go our way — we can beat them."

In order to be Gustavus, however, Mannor is going to have to find a way to shut down the Gusties' Kelly Crandall, who scored the game's first three goals, before Stefanie Ubl netted the fourth six minutes into the third period.

"I don't think we played all that well — it seemed like both teams were just kind of going through the motions," said Mannor, who did get a 52-save effort from senior goalie Nikki Jung (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.). "Nikki played extremely well — she definitely kept us in the game. We just didn't help her out much."