ST. CLOUD, Minn. — If the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's hockey team has proven one thing during the early part of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season, it's that the Cardinals are big fans of the game-ending shootout.
 
Just two weeks after beating nationally ranked St. Thomas in a shootout in the first game of their two-game conference series, the Cardinals were at it again on Friday—with the same result.
 
After battling the Johnnies—who came into the weekend unbeaten and ranked No. 15 in the latest USCHO.com poll—to a 2-2 deadlock through 60 minutes of regulation and a five-minute overtime period, Nick Albergo (Elmhurst, Ill.) and Martin Gruse (Trenton, Mich.) came through with goals in the shootout, lifting the Cardinals to the victory—and the extra conference point.
 
After going 40 minutes without scoring a goal, the two teams combined for four goals in the third period, with the Cardinals scoring the first two, and the Johnnies answering with two of their own.
 
Kelvin Walz (Woodbury, Minn.) scored just 12 seconds into the third period and Mike Mezzano (Woodbury, Minn.) added his second of the season just over a minute later as Saint Mary's grabbed a 2-0 advantage.
 
Saint John's cut the gap to 2-1 on a goal by Huba Sekesi at 3:14, and then netted the game-tying tally on a goal by Tyler Dunagan with one minute remaining in regulation.
 
Neither team would score in the five-minute overtime period, setting up the Cardinals' second shootout in three conference games.
 
Phil Heinle (York, Pa.), who earned MIAC Athlete of the Week honors after stopping 72 shots in the Cardinals' two nonconference games against UW-Superior and UW-Stevens Point last weekend—recorded a career-high 51 saves against the Johnnies, including 17 in the third period and seven more in overtime.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-2 MIAC, 2-3-2 overall) get another shot at the Johnnies on Saturday, as the two teams square off in the second game of their two-game conference series. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud, Minn.