By
DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — After giving up more than one goal in a game for just the fifth time this season, St. Thomas returned to its miserly ways Saturday afternoon.
Much to the dismay of the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team.
The Cardinals, who scored the first and last goals in Friday's 5-2 loss to the league-leading Tommies, came up empty in the teams' rematch, as St. Thomas held Saint Mary's to just 14 shots on goal — and no goals — in dealing SMU a 3-0 conference setback at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
St. Thomas did not waste any time taking control on Saturday, as Alyssa Wallace scored just 30 seconds into the opening period.
That, however, would be the extent of the offensive fireworks over the next 46-plus minutes — thanks to the play of Saint Mary's
Jordan Keeley (St. James, Minn.) and UST's Eryn Cooley.
After the Tommies' early goal, Keeley stopped the next 21 shots over the first two periods, while Cooley kicked out all 12 Saint Mary's shots to keep it a one-goal game heading into the third period.
St. Thomas finally solved Keeley a second time on a goal by Estee Frantz at 7:36 of the final frame, and Mikayla Kero added a power-play tally with 22 seconds to play to round out the scoring.
Keeley finished the day with 36 shots on goal — 15 of the Tommies' 17 third-period shots — while Cooley kicked out all 14 Saint Mary's shots in recording the shutout.
The Cardinals (2-5-1 MIAC, 5-8-2 overall) are back on their home ice for Game 1 of their two-game MIAC series against Bethel next Friday. Following the 7 p.m. matchup at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena, the Cardinals and Royals will travel to the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., for Saturday's 2 p.m. rematch. The Tommies (8-0-0 MIAC, 9-2-3 overall), meanwhile, are back in action next weekend with a pair of conference games against Gustavus. UST heads to St. Peter, Minn., for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Gusties at Don Roberts Ice Arena, before the two teams travel to the St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights, Minn., for the 2 p.m. rematch the following day.
