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WINONA, Minn. — From past experience, Saint Mary's University women's hockey coach Terry Mannor knew that Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against St. Olaf was going to be like an old-fashioned staring contest.

First one to blink, loses.

Unfortunately for Mannor, it was the Cardinals who blinked, as St. Olaf outscored SMU 2-1 in the third period in handing Saint Mary's a 2-1 conference setback at the SMU Ice Arena.

“It's hard to be too disappointed, because, yeah, we could probably have played better, but so could they have,” said Mannor. “We knew coming in that this was going to be a close, hard-fought battle — and that's exactly what it was.

“We've always played St. Olaf tight, and tonight was no different — the whole game really came down to one shift.”

The Oles broke a 0-0 deadlock five minutes into the third period, as Nicole Stumpf banged a loose puck past SMU goalie Kaye Collier (Hibbing, Minn.) for her 10th goal of the season.

The Cardinals responded four minutes later, as Dy-anna Stewart's (Eden Prairie, Minn.) shot from the point deflected off an Ole defender in front and scooted past St. Olaf netminder Jessica Ptachick to tie the game at 1-1.

Taylor Orr got the game-winner for the Oles, as she picked up a loose puck out front and beat Collier with a wrist shot.

Despite the loss, the Cardinals still control their own destiny in their quest for a berth in the five-team MIAC playoffs. The Cardinals enter Saturday's 3 p.m. rematch at St. Olaf tied with Concordia — which tied St. Thomas 1-1 Friday evening — for the fifth and final playoff berth. An SMU win — or a Concordia loss — and the Cardinals are back in post-season play for the second straight year.

“We would have loved to have won today and had a playoff spot locked up (heading into Saturday's game),” admitted Mannor. “We'll just have to go out and take care of business (Saturday).”