Box Score Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — Terry Mannor wasn't very happy with the final score of Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Gustavus.

But then, who would be when you team comes out on the losing end of a 5-1 decision.

So why was the Saint Mary's University women's hockey coach smiling following his team's third straight loss?

Because his team did something they haven't done all season — they played a complete, 60-minute game.

"You're never happy with a loss, but, believe it or not, that may have been the best game we've played all year," said Mannor, who saw his team fall to 0-11-1 vs. the Gusties in their last 12 meetings. "Obviously we made a lot of mental mistakes, but they played hard — and they played with heart — for 60 minutes.

"We haven't put together three periods like that all season, and, win or lose, when you give it your like that for a complete game, that's all I can ask of them."

The Gusties' Kelly Crandall and Stefanie Ubl wasted little time picking up where they left off on Friday, as the GAC duo — who accounted for all four Gustavus goals in its 4-0 triumph over the Cardinals in St. Peter, Minn. — fresh off Friday night's 4-0 victory — both scored the game's opening three minutes.

Laura Mueller (St. Paul, Minn.) got the Cardinals within one, 2-1, when she scored her fourth of the season at the 14:40 mark of the first period, but that was all the offense the Cardinals would muster.

Gustavus' high-octane offense, meanwhile, was just warming up, as the Gusties scored a pair of goals in the first four minutes of the second period, then closed out the scoring with Crandall's second of the game — and fifth of the two-game series — midway through the third period.

"Gustavus is a very good team," said Mannor, whose team heads into the Christmas break with a 2-3-1 MIAC record and a 2-6-2 overall mark. "We hung with them early, but when they got those two quick goals in the second period, it kind of took the wind out of our sails a bit. You can't afford to give a team like that a two-goal cushion — it's just way too hard to come back from.

"It would have been great to be able to get a point or two off (Gustavus)," Mannor added. "But at least we can say we never gave up. The fact that we came out today and put together a complete effort for 60 minutes — that's very satisfying."