By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — If their season-opening performance against Edgewood is any indication, it appears as if the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team has a flair for the dramatic.
 
The Cardinals surrendered the game-tying goal with less than five minutes remaining in regulation — and then netted the game-winner off the foot of Mary Loy (Burien, Wash.) just three minutes later — as Saint Mary's kicked off 2019 with a 2-1 nonconference victory over the Eagles at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
Saint Mary's netted the only game of the first half, as Jordyn Matthews (Seattle, Wash.) scored an unassisted tally — her first collegiate goal — in the game's 31^st minute.
 
The Cardinals would cling to that one-goal advantage until late in the second half, when Edgewood's Madelyn Peach beat Cardinal goalkeeper Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) in the 85^th minute.
 
Determined not to have to play an overtime period, the Cardinals quickly answered as Loy took a feed from Kassie Arriaga (Chula Vista, Calif.) and beat Edgewood goalkeeper Grace Wildeboer to give Saint Mary's the one-goal victory.
 
The Cardinals held an 18-3 edge in total shots, including a 10-1 advantage in shots on goal.
 
The Cardinals (1-0-0 overall) are back in action on Friday, traveling to Fond du Lac, Wis., for a 7 p.m. nonconference game against Marian.