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WINONA, Minn. — St. Norbert entered Saturday's game with an impressive 6-0-1 record when leading after two periods.

In other words, the Green Knights were good — very good — heading into the final period with a lead.

The Saint Mary's University men's hockey team, however, was unimpressed.

The Cardinals, trailing 2-1 heading into third period Saturday, rattled off a pair of goals — including the game-winner by Nick Nagel (Andover, Minn.) with seven minutes remaining in regulation — as SMU knocked off the defending national champion Green Knights 3-2 at the SMU Ice Arena.

“As I'm as happy today as I was frustrated yesterday,” said SMU coach Bill Moore, whose team dropped a 3-2 decision to UW-Stevens Point on Friday. “I thought we played very well and the guys just gutted it out.

“To beat the defending national champions — that's saying something.”

Nick Gorup (Omaha, Neb.) got the Cardinals on the board first, as the junior — who scored one of SMU's two goals in Friday's 3-2 loss to UW-Stevens Point — raced around the St. Norbert defenseman and slipped the puck past Green Knights goalie Travis Bosch seven minutes into the opening period.

The lead, however, was short-lived, as St. Norbert answered five minutes later on a goal by Joe Perry, then added a power play tally by Seth Soley to take a 2-1 advantage into the locker room after one period.

The Cardinals dominated the second period, outshooting the Green Knights 11-4, but SMU could not get the equalizer past Bosch, as St. Norbert maintained its 2-1 advantage through 40 minutes.

Austin Balko (Midland, Mich.) wasted little time in the third period pulling the Cardinals even, as the sophomore rifled a slap shot from the right point past Bosch to make it 2-2 before the period was even three minutes old.

Nagel then netted the game-winner 12 minutes later, banging on a Balko rebound to give the Cardinals their third win in their last four games.

SMU goalie Jason Horstman (Faribault, Minn.) certainly did his part, stopping 32 shots — including 18 in the third period. SMU, meanwhile, peppered Bosch with 29 shots.

“No question this is a big win for us,” said Moore. “I've said all along that I think this team is capable of playing with — and beating — anyone, and we proved that tonight.

“We've still got work to do to get ready for the rest of the conference schedule, but this certainly is a nice win.”

The Cardinals return to MIAC play on Friday, traveling to Blaine, Minn., for a 7 p.m. game against Bethel at the Schwan's Super Rink.