By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — When it comes to scoring goals, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Maura Michener (Winona, Minn.) has had the Midas Touch this season.
 
The senior — who had scored just once in her first two years as a member of the Saint Mary's women's soccer team — netted her team-leading seventh goal of the season Saturday afternoon against Saint Benedict.
 
Unfortunately, the Bennies had found the back of the net three times before Michener's goal in the 73^rd minute, as Saint Benedict dealt the Cardinals a 3-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
Saint Benedict scored the only goal of the first half, as Megan Thompson corralled a through ball from Nicole Newman and beat Cardinal goalkeeper Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) for her third goal of the season.
 
The Bennies did not waste any time coming out of the halftime break, as Brianna Griffin rifled a shot past Pederson and into the upper right-hand corner just 1:25 into the second half, and Thompson would make it 3-0 with her second of the game 13 minutes later.
 
Michener lofted a bomb over the head of CSB goalkeeper Kayli Thulin to get the Cardinals on the board at 73:46, but it was too little, too late.
 
Pederson finished with two saves in goal for Saint Mary's, while Bennie starter Kendall Koenen made a pair of saves, before giving way to Thulin, who stopped the only shot she faced in the game's final 21 minutes.
 
The Cardinals (0-6-0 MIAC, 5-7-0 overall) are back in action on Tuesday, traveling to St. Peter, Minn., for a 4 p.m. conference matchup against Gustavus.