WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team certainly had a flare for the dramatic in posting its first win of the season Friday evening at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
The Cardinals spotted Saint Benedict a 2-1 lead after two periods, then came storming back with a pair of third-period goals—including the game-winner by Lindsay Paschke (New Prague, Minn.) with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation—as Saint Mary's handed Saint Benedict a 3-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.
 
Saint Mary's took the offensive early, getting on the board on an unassisted tally by Molly Abraham (Sterling Heights, Mich.) at 5:26 of the opening period.
 
The Cardinals would maintain that one-goal advantage until late in the second stanza, when Saint Benedict got back-to-back goals from Stephanie Kirk and Alyssa Hoffman in a three-minute span to take a 2-1 edge into the locker room after 40 minutes.
 
Abraham wasted little time netting her second goal of the game—and third of the season—beating Saint Benedict goalie Jenna Traut just 56 seconds into the third period.
 
Paschke then picked the most opportune moment to net her first goal of the season, scoring at 12:21 to give the Cardinals the lead for good.
 
Tori Herrmann (Elk River, Minn.)—coming off a 43-save shutout of nationally ranked St. Thomas last Saturday—finished with 14 saves in goal for the Cardinals Friday, while Traut kicked out 22 of Saint Mary's 25 shots—including 12 in the first period.
 
The Cardinals (1-1-1 MIAC, 1-3-1 overall) will look for the sweep over Saint Benedict on Saturday, when Saint Mary's hosts the Blazers in the second game of their two-game conference series. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.