By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
NORTHFIELD, Minn.  — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer team came out firing in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener against St. Olaf Saturday afternoon.
 
In fact, it took the high-powered Cardinal offense less than five minutes to find the back of the net.
 
Unfortunately, the Oles' offense proved to be even more potent, answering Saint Mary's early tally with three unanswered goals in an eight-minute span—and added another early in the second half—as St. Olaf dealt the Cardinals a 4-1 setback at Rolf Melby Field.
 
The Cardinals did not waste any time getting on the board, as Maura Michener (Winona, Minn.) netted her fourth goal of the season just 4:56 into the opening half.
 
From there, however, it was the Oles who put up the offensive fireworks, getting back-to-back goals from Mackenzie Schoustra—the first less than eight minutes after Michener's tally and the second just four minutes after her first—to take the lead for good.
 
St. Olaf pushed its lead to 3-1 when Emily Lecy scored in the 20^th minute, and  Rose Sandell capped the scoring with her first of the season seven minutes into the second half.
 
Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) made six saves in goal for the Cardinals, while St. Olaf goalkeeper Brynne Davis stopped two of the Cardinals' three shots on goal.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-0 MIAC, 4-2-0 overall) return home on Wednesday, stepping out of conference action for a 5 p.m. nonconference matchup against UW-River Falls at Ochrymowycz Field.