By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
BLAINE, Minn. — It's been a season that has left Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey coach Greg Moore fit to be tied.
 
Literally.
 
For the sixth time this season, the Cardinals played a game in which a winner could not be decided through 60 minutes of regulation — or five minutes of overtime — as Saint Mary's battled Bethel to a 2-2 MIAC stalemate Friday evening at the Schwan's Super Rink.
 
The Royals struck first, when Bri Stafine beat Cardinal goalie Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.) with just 2:21 remaining in the game's opening 20 minutes.
 
Natalie Ryan (Village of Lakewood, Ill.) pulled Saint Mary's even midway through the second period — off assists from Maddy Wallraff (Blaine, Minn.) and Carolyn Chrastka (Franklin Park, Ill.) — and took the lead when Bailey Wendt (Coon Rapids, Minn.) banged home a Ryan shot on the power play at 14:28 of the third.
 
The lead did not last long, however, as Bailey Thompson pulled Bethel even with a power-play tally of her own just three minutes after Wendt's goal.
 
Neither team would find the back of the net over the final 2:40 of regulation — or in the five-minute extra session — as the two teams settled for the 2-2 tie.
 
Ziakas made 33 saves in goal for the Cardinals — including 17 in the third period and three more in overtime — while BU's Mallory Tidona kicked out 31 of Saint Mary's 33 shots.
 
The Cardinals (3-6-4 MIAC, 6-8-6 overall) and Royals conclude their two-game conference series on Saturday, as the two teams head to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for a 4 p.m. rematch.