By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — After back-to-back heartbreaking losses to St. Catherine and Gustavus — both games decided in the game's final three minutes — the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team got down-right defensive against UW-Stout Wednesday evening.
 
The end result? A streak-snapping, 2-0 nonconference victory over the Blue Devils.
 
The Cardinals' smothering defense limited the Blue Devils to just five shot attempts, three of which found their way to Saint Mary's goalkeeper Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) — who promptly stopped all three for her fourth shutout of the season, and 11th of her collegiate career.
 
It took the Cardinals nearly 49 minutes to get their offense cranked up, but Kassie Arriaga (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Jordyn Matthews (Seattle, Wash.) made it worth the wait.
 
Arriaga put the Cardinals on the board in the 48th minute, netting her second goal of the season off an assist from Matthews. Matthews then padded the Saint Mary's lead to 2-0, scoring her team-leading seventh goal of the season — an unassisted tally — in the 65th minute.
 
The Cardinals (5-2-0 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, playing host to Augsburg in a 3:30 p.m. showdown at Ochrymowycz Field.