By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer team entered Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown against Macalester boasting a high-octane offense that had produced a combined seven goals — and a pair of conference wins — in its last two outings.
 
A stingy Scots' defense, however — not to mention incredibly gusty winds — grounded that high-flying offense.
 
Macalester scored three unanswered goals — erasing an early 1-0 Saint Mary's advantage and handing the Cardinals a 3-1 conference setback at Macalester Stadium.
 
Mary Loy (Burien, Wash.) — who netted the game-winner for the Cardinals in Wednesday's 3-2, double-overtime win over Carleton — picked up right where she left off, scoring the game's first goal just 3:29 into the opening half.
 
Unfortunately, that would be the extent of the Cardinals' offensive output, while the Scots' offense had yet to shift out of neutral.
 
Macalester did not wait long to answer Loy's early tally, netting the equalizer off the foot of Molly Adams eight minutes later to knot the game at 1-1.
 
The Scots then took the lead for good on Molly Adams' second goal of the season in the 33^rd minute, then added an insurance goal three minutes into the second half, as Alica Bieda beat Saint Mary's goalkeeper Gabriela Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) on a penalty kick
 
Pederson finished with five saves in goal for the Cardinals, while Scots' goalkeeper Kayla Togneri stopped two of Saint Mary's three shots.
 
Saint Mary's (2-8-0 MIAC, 7-9-0 overall) steps out of conference play for the final time on Wednesday, as the Cardinals entertain Ripon in a 6:30 p.m. contest at Ochrymowycz Field.