WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University women's hockey coach
Terry Mannor has seen it before.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals head coach doesn't exactly like what he's seeing.
For the third time this year, the Cardinals put together a solid performance — only to come up just short, as UW-Eau Claire handed SMU a 2-1 nonconference setback at the SMU Ice Arena Friday night.
“It's frustrating,” said Mannor, whose team fell to 0-3-0 with the loss in their home opener. “I thought we played well — this was a game that could have easily gone either way. Both teams played well, and both teams had their chances.
“Eau Claire just did a better job with their scoring opportunities.”
Brianna Drude (Oakdale, Minn.) gave the Cardinals a 1-0 first-period lead, scoring her first collegiate goal off an assist by
Sheree Haslemore (Gore, New Zealand) midway through the opening period.
The Blugolds would get the equalizer before the period ended, as Kristin Faber beat SMU goalie
Kaye Collier (Hibbing, Minn.) with 2:01 remaining on the powerplay.
After a scoreless second period, in which SMU held an 11-10 advantage in shots on goal, Beth Dittrich snapped the 1-1 deadlock, netting the game-winner with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.
“We made two mistakes and they cost us,” said Mannor, whose team travels to Eau Claire, Wis., for a rematch with the Blugolds at 7 p.m. on Saturday. “We took a bad penalty (in the first period), and made a bad (line) change in the third period, and both mistakes ended up in (Eau Claire) scoring.
“Hopefully we can get things turned around (Saturday).”
