By EMILY LOOF
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
WINONA, Minn. — Head coach Greg Moore and the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team knew they had their work cut out for them Friday evening as they took on fourth-ranked Gustavus at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
But thanks to a highlight-reel goal and a standout performance by their goaltender, the Cardinals stood up to the challenge, battling the Gusties to a 1-1 tie.
 
Gustavus came into Friday's matchup against the Cardinals ranked fourth in the latest USCHO.com Poll—and prior to Friday's contest, the Gusties had lost just once in regulation over their last 12 games.
 
And Gustavus did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as Sydney Henrichs scored just 1:19 into the first period.
 
The next few minutes saw action on both ends—including a deep offensive, but unsuccessful, run at the net by Jesse Cwik (Chicago, Ill.) and a sliding shoulder save by Cardinal goaltender Ashley Corcoran (Red Wing, Minn.)—but the Cardinals were unable to land a shot on goal until more than 11 minutes into the first period.
 
Once the Cardinals recorded that first shot, however, the shots came a little easier. Molly Abraham (Sterling Heights, Mich.) landed a forceful slapshot on Gustie goaltender Amanda DiNella, forcing DiNella to make a tough save from close range. Shortly after, DiNella was tested on a breakaway by Anya Hafiz (Woodbury, Minn.), and again came through for the Gusties again.
 
Isn't there a saying about the third time being the charm?
 
Well, Cwik was out to prove the old adage right, as she broke away from the Gustie defense in the neutral zone and buried a shot past DiNella, just below the crossbar at 18:19 of the first period. Cwik's unassisted tally sent the teams into the locker room for the first intermission tied at one goal apiece.
 
The Cardinals found themselves on the penalty kick for most of the first five minutes of the second period, being whistled for back-to-back minor penalties, but Corcoran stood her ground, making a pair of point-blank saves to keep the score even.
 
In fact, Corcoran stood on her head for the Cardinals in the second period, stopping all 10 shots she faced—including several that had the crowd gasping collectively in disbelief. Thanks to her efforts, the teams again headed into intermission deadlocked at 1-1.
 
Compared to the game's first two periods, much of the final frame lacked the element of the dramatic. Both teams received opportunities on the power play, but neither team was able to find a way to generate much offense.
 
That changed late in the period, however, when the Gusties earned another power play and banked a shot off the post with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation. That would be the best offensive chance for either team in the third period, and the Cardinals found themselves entering overtime for the second time in a week.  
 
And it was back to the dramatic in the overtime period.
 
 Less than two minutes in, the Cardinals surrendered what many in the crowd feared would be a game-ending penalty shot to the Gusties Kaitlyn Klein. But once again, Corcoran came up big, thwarting Klein's backhand attempt to help earn the Cardinals a key conference point.
 
Corcoran finished with a season-high 42 saves for the Cardinals, while DiNella stopped nine of the Cardinals' 10 shots. Corcoran's 42 saves were not only a season-high, but also her second-high career saves total—the junior kicked out 56 shots against Gustavus a year ago.
 
The Cardinals travel to St. Peter, Minn., on Saturday for the second game of the two-game series against the Gusties. Opening faceoff is scheduled is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Don Roberts Ice Arena.