BLAINE, Minn. — Call it a case of good timing.
 
Make that, great timing.
 
Mackenzie Klimek (Hastings, Minn.) scored her first goal of the season—with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, as the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team collected a 2-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Bethel Friday evening at the Schwan's Super Rink.
 
"That was a great college hockey game," said Saint Mary's coach Terry Mannor. "I thought we played very well—outstanding team effort from top to bottom."
 
After a scoreless second period, the Cardinals didn't waste any time in the second period to get on the board, as Jamie Henderson (Madison, Wis.) scored just 18 seconds into the period off an assist from Mary DeBartolo (Chicago, Ill.)
 
Caroline Kivisto pulled the Royals even with a power play tally at 13:40 of the third period, setting up Klimek's heroics, as the senior tallied a power play goal of her own with 1:57 remaining in regulation.
 
Tori Herrmann (Elk River, Minn.) picked up the win in goal for Saint Mary's, stopping 17 of the Royals' 18 shots, while Maggie Straka had 10 saves in goal for Bethel.
 
The Cardinals (4-2-1 MIAC, 6-6-2 overall) and Royals square off again on Saturday, as Saint Mary's hosts Bethel in the second game of the teams' two-game conference series. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.