By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — Another year, another nailbiter for the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team against St. Catherine.
 
And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, another heartbreaking loss.
 
A year after the Wildcats dealt the Cardinals a 3-2 setback — scoring 59 seconds into the second overtime — St. Catherine was at it again Tuesday evening in the teams' Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.
 
St. Catherine scored the game-winning goal with 1:15 remaining in regulation — less than seven minutes after the Cardinals had knotted the game at 1-1 — lifting the Wildcats to a 2-1 win over SMU at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
The Wildcats got on the board in the 23rd minute, when Sofia Campbell beat Cardinal goalkeeper Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) for her first goal of the season.
 
St. Catherine clung to that one goal lead until late into the second half, before Kassie Arriaga (Chula Vista, Calif.) got the Cardinals on the board, scoring off a scramble in front of the Wildcat goal to pull Saint Mary's even, 1-1.
 
The game did not remain deadlocked long, however.
 
St. Catherine's Lauren Witte beat Pederson with the game-winner in the 88th minute, as the Wildcats handed the Cardinals' their first loss of the season.
 
Pederson finished with six saves in goal for the Cardinals, including five in the second — several of the acrobatic variety. Molly Rudolph had two saves in goal for SCU.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-0 MIAC, 4-1-0 overall) hit the road on Saturday, heading to St. Peter, Minn., for a 3:30 p.m. conference showdown with Gustavus.