WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team took the ice Friday evening having not played since knocking off UW-Stevens Point 3-1 on Dec. 10.
 
Lake Forest entered Friday's nonconference game against the Cardinals also on the heels of a lengthy layoff—the Foresters had not seen action since sweeping Finlandia 10-1 and 9-1 on Dec. 2-3.
 
Unfortunately for Saint Mary's coach Terry Mannor, it was the Foresters' offense that was able to kick off the rust in a timely manner, as Lake Forest handed the Cardinals a 4-0 nonconference setback at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
Lake Forest got on the board at 15:37 of the opening period, as Isabel Regine banged an Olivia Spellmire rebound past Saint Mary's goalie Ashley Corcoran (Red Wing, Minn.).
 
Kayla Griffith pushed the Forester lead to 2-0 with her fifth of the season 8:41 into the second period, and Lexi Morgan found the back of the net—also recording her fifth of the year—before the middle frame ended, giving Lake Forest a 3-0 cushion heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
Spellmire closed out the scoring for Lake Forest, netting an unassisted tally—her team-leading 10^th on the year—at 4:22 of the third.
 
Corcoran finished with 32 saves for the Cardinals—including 12 in the second period and 14 more in the third—while Lake Forest goalie Jacque Rogers kicked out all 19 Saint Mary's shots in earning the shutout.
 
The Cardinals (4-7-1 overall) get another crack at the seventh-ranked Foresters on Saturday, as the two teams return to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for a 2 p.m. rematch.