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WINONA, Minn. — Friday nights are starting to get repetitive for the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team.

Friday night's game ended the same way the last two Fridays have ended — in a tie with a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team — as SMU battled St. Catherine University to a 2-2 deadlock.

“It's good to get a point against such a good team,” said SMU coach Terry Mannor, whose team moves to 2-0-3 in conference play. “St. Kate's is considered one of the top teams in the west.”

The first period saw SCU jump out in front on a Cassie Rooney goal, only to have SMU counter two minutes later as Erin Stenseth (Eau Claire, Wis.) banged home a loose puck off of a scrum in front of the net.

After a scoreless second period, SMU's Nicole Olson (New Brighton, Minn.) put the Cardinals out front, finding the net for her first goal of the season from the right side of the net with just over five minutes remaining.

The Cardinals maintained their 2-1 lead until the very end of the third period, when Katie Lawler scored off of a rebound for the Wildcats with 44 seconds to go in regulation.

“We played passively at the end,” said Mannor. “We were running around, holding the puck too long.”

Despite several good chances by both teams, the extra time ended without a tiebreaker.

Besides staying undefeated, another positive coming from Friday's game for SMU was holding St. Catherine's Michaela Michaelson off the scoreboard. Michaelson was named last year's MIAC Player of the Year, and entered Friday's game leading SCU with nine points this season.

“We knew we were playing against a good player tonight,” said Mannor. “We talked about it in practice. She's a very physical player with a strong shot.”

The Cardinals (5-1-3 Overall, 2-0-3 MIAC) will have a second chance against the Wildcats on Saturday, as the two teams square off for a 4 p.m. rematch at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.