Box Score Game Summary / GameDay Preview

BOSTON, Mass. — It was a new day, but the same story for the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team.

Just a day after giving up a pair of goals less than two minutes apart early in the first period of Sunday's 3-1 loss to Trinity (Ct.) in the opening round of the UMass-Boston Codfish Bowl, the Cardinals once again found themselves staring at a 2-1 deficit late in Monday's consolation game against Bowdoin.

And, just like Sunday, the Cardinals surrendered a late, third-period goal in dropping their second straight 3-1 decision at the Clark Athletic Center.

“We certainly had our chances today,” said SMU coach Terry Mannor. “We had so many scoring chances in the first two periods that we could have easily scored six goals — we were definitely snake-bit.”

Snake-bit, and jet-lagged.

“The first period and a half, we played very well, but about the last eight minutes of the second period, you could tell that we were drained — the travel took its toll and you could see it in our play.”

The Polar Bears, like Trinity a day earlier, got in front of the Cardinals early, as Kim Tess-Wanat scored just 4:17 into the opening period. SMU would net the only goal of the second period on Nicole Olson's (New Brighton, Minn.) second of the season, as the two teams when into the third period at 1-1.

Over those final 20 minutes, however, the Cardinals' tank hit empty, as Bowdoin scored twice — on a Kayte Holtz tally at 4:32 and an empty netter by Jill Campbell with 21 seconds remaining — to seal the win.

Sarah Gustafson (Esko, Minn.) finished with 27 saves for the Cardinals, while Kayla Lessard kicked out 26 of the 27 SMU shots she faced in goal for the Polar Bears.

“This was an awesome experience for everyone,” said Mannor, whose Cardinals (6-3-3 overall) are now off until Jan. 15, when they play a rare nonconference game against MIAC foe St. Olaf at the SMU Ice Arena. “We had the opportunity to play two very good teams and, hopefully, it will help prepare us as we head back into conference play.”