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WINONA, Minn. — For the past two weeks, the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team has been on a streak-snapping mission.

And with each snapped streak, the significance just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

On Wed., Sept. 29, the Cardinals put an end to a three-game losing streak against Gustavus, handing the Gusties a 1-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.

Three days later, SMU battled league-leading Concordia to a 0-0 conference tie, ending a 11-game winless streak against the Cobbers that dated back to a 2-1 Cardinal victory during the 1998 season.

And Saturday afternoon at Ochrymowycz Field, the Cardinals were at it again, getting the game-winning goal from Ashley Gernes (Lake Elmo, Minn.) in the game's 55 minute, sending SMU to a 1-0 victory over Macalester — their first win over the Scots since a 1-0 victory in 1995, a span of 14 games.

“How can you put into words how big a win this is for us,” said SMU coach Eric Zimmerman, whose team had gone 12-0-2 during its 14-game winless streak vs. Macalester. “Everyone played so well today — it was a total team effort.”

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie after the game's opening 45 minutes, thanks in large part to the play of Cardinal goalie Cassie Hulett (Milwaukee, Wis.), who stopped five first-half shots.

Gernes then gave the Cardinals a little breathing room, as the junior snapped a streak of her own — ending a 46-game scoreless drought — with her first collegiate goal on a low shot to the right corner that eluding Macalester goalkeeper Rosie Glenn-Finer.

While Gernes gave the Cardinals' offense a much-need boost with the early second-half goal, Hulett made sure it stood up, finishing with 10 saves en route to her conference-leading sixth shutout of the season.

“That was a great shot, and, obviously, a huge boost for us,” said Zimmerman of Gernes' goal. “The best part was, we didn't panic after we got the lead. We kept pushing and pushing, and actually created several other great scoring chances — we weren't able to convert any of them, but one goal proved to be all we needed.”

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday, playing host to St. Olaf in a 6 p.m. conference game at Ochrymowycz Field.