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WINONA, Minn. — After scoring just one goal in its last two games — both losses — it was safe to say that the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team was in a bit of a tailspin heading into Sunday's nonconference game against Beloit.

Not anymore.

With Kendra Maloney (Green Bay, Wis.) and Amy Sibik (Onalaska, Wis.) at the controls, the duo piloted the Cardinals to their 23rd straight nonconference win, as SMU rolled to a 4-0 victory over Beloit at Ochrymowycz Field.

"This was a nice win for us — we needed a solid performance after the last couple of games," said SMU coach Chris Dembiec, whose team was coming off a 3-0 setback at the hands of Concordia on Saturday. "I wasn't really sure what to expect today. We got in late after a long road trip (to Moorhead, Minn.) and everyone was a little down after the loss, so I wasn't sure just how we would come out and play."

If Maloney's performance was any indication, the Cardinals — smarting from those back-to-back conference losses — were eager to take out their frustrations on the visiting Buccaneers.

Maloney got SMU on the board six minutes into the opening half, and Sibik pushed that advantage to 2-0 — taking a feed from Maloney and feathering a shot into the open net for her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

And that was just the beginning, as Maloney netted her second of the game six minutes into the second half, with Corry Hancock (La Crosse, Wis.) closing out the scoring with her second of the season with four minutes remaining in regulation.

"It was great to see Kendra get rewarded for her efforts today," said Dembiec of his senior midfielder. "She played a great game (Saturday at Concordia) and she just picked up where she left off today."

While the Cardinals' offense was busy swarming the Beloit net — peppering goalkeeper Emily Peterson with 17 shots — SMU keepers Lauren Mess (Lake Geneva, Wis.) and Marianna Sanchez (Puebla, Mexico) did not have to make a save. Beloit's lone shot — a penalty kick by Amy Buechler with three minutes remaining — sailed over the net.

"It was nice to get back on the winning track, but we can't get too complacent about this win, either," said Dembiec. "We've got a tough slate of conference games left, and we are going to need to step our game up a notch if we are going to make any type of (playoff) push."