By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ST. PAUL, Minn. — After going into overtime in four of their last five games — and managing just a combined eight goals over that five-game stretch — the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team had a two-pronged approach to Friday's showdown against St. Catherine.
 
Turn up the offensive heat — and stay away from overtime.
 
Unfortunately, that approach did not quite work.
 
The Cardinals needed to score back-to-back goals — one late in the second period and the other in the third — to rally for … yes, another overtime tie — this time a 2-2 deadlock against St. Catherine at Drake Arena.
 
The Wildcats grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, scoring at 12:57 of the first period on a goal by Emilee Anderson, then tacked on their second goal of the game 11 minutes into the middle period.
 
Saint Mary's cut the deficit to 2-1 with 2:04 remaining in the second period, as Sophia Zebro (Oak Grove, Minn.) scored an unassisted goal — her fifth of the season — leaving the Cardinals trailing by one heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
Zebro had a hand in the game-tying goal as well, setting up Carson Sheridan (Waunakee, Wis.), who scored the game-tying goal 1:51 into the final stanza.
 
Neither team could get the game-winner over the final 18:09 of regulation — and the five-minute OT — as Saint Mary's earned its fourth tie in the last six contests.
 
The Cardinals (2-5-2 MIAC, 5-7-4 overall) and Wildcats are back in action on Saturday, heading to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for the second game of their two-game conference series. Puck drop is slated for 4 p.m.