WINONA, Minn. — After managing just one goal in their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series against nationally ranked St. Thomas last weekend—and just six goals in their last six games—the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team's offense was in dire need of a jump-start.
 
And Friday evening was just the ticket.
 
Saint Mary's scored as many goals in the first period as it did in all six periods combined against the Tommies last weekend—and the Cardinals never took their foot off the accelerator, scoring four times in handing the Pipers a 4-2 setback at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
"It wasn't our prettiest effort," said Saint Mary's coach Terry Mannor. "But the bottom line is, we came away with a win.
 
"It was good to see our offense get going a bit, but we still need to figure out a way to put together three solid periods."
 
The Cardinals—who headed into the locker room tied 0-0 after the first period in both games with the Tommies last weekend—weren't about to make it 3-for-3 against the Pipers, as McKenna Parent (Anoka, Minn.) found the back of the net just 3:24 into the opening stanza.
 
The lead lasted just 43 seconds, however, as Jamie Nowicki answered Parent's goal with one of her own to pull Hamline even, 1-1.
 
Saint Mary's regained the upper hand midway through the period on a goal by Kassie Lien (Grantsburg, Wis.), scoring her third of the season off assists by Kayla Pierson (Shorewood, Ill.) and Rory Petrisin (High Bridge, N.J.).
 
The Pipers got the equalizer 8:33 into the second period, but it was Lien to the rescue, as the junior netted her second of the game—and fourth of the season—at 17:11 to give Saint Mary's a 3-2 lead heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
Molly Abraham (Sterling Heights, Mich.) gave the Cardinals a little breathing room, scoring her second of the season with just over two minutes remaining to push the lead to 4-2.
 
Tori Herrmann (Elk River, Minn.) picked up the win in goal for the Cardinals, stopping 25 of the 27 shots she faced—eight in the first and third periods, and nine in the second—while two Hamline goalies teamed for 22 saves.
 
The Cardinals (4-4-1 MIAC, 5-9-2 overall) will go for the sweep of the Pipers on Saturday, heading to Oscar Johnson Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for a 2 p.m. conference rematch.