EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — For the second game in a row, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team scored first … Entered the final 20 minutes tied 1-1 … and had the game end 2-1 on a late, third-period tally.
This time around, however, it was the Cardinals wbo came out on top — thanks in large part to
Ingrid Klockars (Wheaton, Ill.).
The junior forward scored both Cardinals' goals — the second with 39 seconds remaining in regulation — to lift SMU to a 2-1 nonconference win over UW-Eau Claire Saturday afternoon.
“It was nice to get that first (win),” said SMU coach
Terry Mannor, whose team had dropped its third straight to open the season on Friday, giving up a goal with three minutes remaining in regulation in falling to the Blugolds 2-1 at the SMU Ice Arena. “Today's game was very similar to (Friday's) — both teams controlled play at times, and both teams had their share of good offensive opportunities.
“Thankfully, we were able to come out on top this time around.”
After a scoreless first period, the Cardinals turned up the heat in the game's middle stanza, outshooting the Blugolds 14-4 and finally getting on the board at 9:06, as Klockars netted her first goal of the season off an assist from
Stevie Fiek (Rochester, Minn.).
UW-Eau Claire knotted things up early in the third, as Katie Ward beat SMU goalie
Kaye Collier (Hibbing, Minn.) just 27 seconds into the period. It would stay that way until Klockars netted her second of the game — an unassisted tally — at 19:21.
“I was happy with the way we played both games this weekend,” said Mannor, whose Cardinals open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Friday, playing host to Hamline in a 7 p.m. game at the SMU Ice Arena. “Hopefully today's win will be a nice momentum boost for us heading into conference play.”
