By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's hockey team returns to conference play on Saturday, as the Cardinals entertain Augsburg for the second game of the teams' two-game MIAC series. Game time at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena is set for 4 p.m.
 
The Matchup:
• Saint Mary's Cardinals (3-7-1 MIAC, 6-10-2 Overall) at Augsburg Auggies (8-3-0 MIAC, 13-5-0 Overall)
 
GameDay Live On The Web:
• Live Stats * Live Video
 
Last Night:
• January 31, 2020 * Ed Saugestad Rink * Minneapolis, Minn.: Saint Mary's scored twice in the third period, but fell one goal short, as Augsburg held off the hard-charging Cardinals 3-2 | Recap
 
Saint Mary's vs. Augsburg — A Year Ago:
• November 16, 2019 * Saint Mary's Ice Arena * Winona, Minn.: Despite being outshot 19-5 through the game's first two periods, the Cardinals made the most of their scoring opportunities — heading into the game's final 20 minutes with a 2-1 lead. Augsburg, however, had plenty of quality third-period chances — and cashed in on two of them — as the Auggies rallied for a 3-2 win over the Cardinals | Recap
• November 17, 2019 * Ed Saugestad Rink * Minneapolis, Minn.: The Cardinals came up empty on all six of their power-play opportunities, while Augsburg converted on two of three chances with the man advantage, as the Auggies handed Saint Mary's a 4-1 conference setback | Recap
 
Up Next:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals are right back on their home ice at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday for the first game of their two-game MIAC series against Hamline. The two teams will then head to TRIA Rink in St. Paul, Minn., for the 2 p.m. rematch the following afternoon.
• Augsburg: The Auggies return to conference play next weekend with a pair of games against St. Catherine. Augsburg will host SCU in a 7 p.m. contest at Ed Saugestad Rink in Minneapolis, Minn., before the two teams travel across town to Drake Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for the 3 p.m. rematch on Saturday afternoon.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2019-20 Roster | 2019-20 Schedule | 2019-20 Statistics
• Friday's game at Augsburg was just the third road game in the last 10 contests for the Cardinals. Saint Mary's has recorded five of its six wins — and both of its ties — at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena. Last Saturday's 2-1 win over the Royals was the Cardinals' first road win of the season. … With their 3-2 loss to Augsburg Friday, the Cardinals' last three games have all been decided by one goal — while 13 of the Cardinals 18 games this season have been decided by two goals or less. Saint Mary's is 6-5-2 in those 13 contests. … The Cardinals' 5-2 loss to St. Thomas on Jan. 17 snapped their three-game winning streak and four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1). … The Cardinals' three-game winning streak was their longest since the 2015-16 season, while their four-game unbeaten run was the longest since going 3-0-1 during the 2014-15 campaign. … Delaney Wolf (Bismarck, N.D.) and Lauryn Folker (Cody, Wyo.) scored the Cardinals' two goals against Augsburg Friday night. … Anya Hafiz (Woodbury, Minn.) — who has scored seven goals in the last 10 games — netted both of the Cardinals' goals in the Cardinals' 5-2 loss to St. Thomas on Jan. 17. It was the fourth time in her collegiate career that the senior has netted two goals in a game. … Hafiz is the third Cardinal to record a two-goal game this season, joining Delaney Calabrese (West Dundee, Ill. / v. St. Norbert on Jan. 10) and Sophia Zebro (Oak Grove, Minn. / v. Concordia on Nov. 15). … Zebro's two-goal game in Saint Mary's 4-3 win over Concordia on Nov. 15 was her third collegiate multiple-goal game. The sophomore also scored two goals against both Marian and UW-River Falls last season. … Avrey Simonson's (Waupaca, Wis.) goal against Bethel last Saturday was the first of her collegiate career. She is the fifth player to net her first goal in a Cardinal uniform this season, joining Delaney Calabrese (West Dundee, Ill.), Kaley Manglitz's (Onalaska, Wis.), Sam Carlson (St. Paul, Minn.), and Amber Miller (Kasson, Minn.). … Hafiz enters Saturday's rematch with Augsburg leading the team in goals with 10, while also leading the team in points with 15. … Courtney Moser (Blaine, Minn.) picked up her team-leading ninth assist against Augsburg on Friday. … Jordan Keeley (St. Peter, Minn.) stopped 41 Augsburg shots on Friday. … Keeley's 41-save effort was just two shy of her career-high 43-save showing against Adrian on Nov. 3. … Keeley has now stopped a combined 115 shots in her last three starts. … Keeley, who has made 30 or more saves in a game five times in her first two years as a Cardinal, boasts a 2.51 goals-against-average and a .923 save percentage in nine starts. … Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.), who stopped a season- and career-high 44 shots against Gustavus on Dec. 6, enters Saturday's game against Augsburg boasting a 2.62 goals-against-average and a .911 save percentage. … Ziakas has made 30 or more saves six times in her collegiate career. … Saint Mary's has scored 14 of its 37 goals this season in the second period, where they hold a 14-12 scoring advantage. On the flip side, the Cardinals have been outscored 17-9 in the first period and 21-13 in the third. … Saint Mary's finished with a season-high 53 shots on goal in its 4-2 win over Marian on Jan. 5. It was the most shots on goal since putting 53 on net against Hamline on Feb. 25, 2004. … With their 3-2 loss to Bethel on Jan. 24, the Cardinals have now played four overtime games this season — going 1-1-2. Along with their loss to Bethel, the Cardinals have also beaten St. Norbert, tying both UW-Stevens Point and Gustavus, with both games ending 2-2. … The Cardinals' 2-2 tie against fourth-ranked Gustavus on Dec. 6 marked the third straight year in which Saint Mary's and GAC played to an overtime draw — the Cardinals and Gusties tied 1-1 in each of the last two seasons. … With their 4-2 win over St. Norbert on Jan. 10, the Cardinals have now scored a season-high four goals three times this season — having also beaten Concordia 4-3 on Nov. 15 and Marian 4-2 on Jan. 5. … Five of the Cardinals' first nine games this season were against teams ranked in the USCHO.com Poll. Saint Mary's dropped 3-2 and 4-2 games to No. 3 Adrian on Nov. 2-3, while falling to No. 5 UW-River Falls 4-1 on Nov. 9, and tying (2-2) and losing (5-1) to No. 4 Gustavus on Dec. 6-7 … Saint Mary's has scored first in 10 of its 18 games, going 2-6-2. The Cardinals are 4-4-0 when their opponent scores first. … Saint Mary's is 3-1-2 when leading after two periods, while going 1-7-0 when trailing after two. … The Cardinals' 4-3 win over Concordia on Nov. 15 was the first collegiate coaching win for Cardinal HC Sarah Murray. … Saint Mary's 3-2 loss to Adrian on Nov. 2 snapped its four-year, season-opening winning streak. … The Cardinals, who made their first MIAC Tournament appearance since the 2015-16 season a year ago — and their 11th in program history — were picked to finish sixth in the MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Scouting The Augsburg Auggies:
2019-20 Roster | 2019-20 Schedule | 2019-20 Statistics
• With their 3-2 win over Saint Mary's Friday, the Auggies have now won three straight and six of their last seven. … Saint Mary's two, third-period goals Friday snapped the Auggies' 14-period MIAC shutout streak. Augsburg had posted shutouts in each of their last four MIAC contests. … Mackenzie Molnar, Katie Flynn, and Bridget Wagner scored Augsburg's three goals against Saint Mary's Friday. … Augsburg has now had nine players account for the Auggies 12 goals during their current three-game winning streak. … Ellie Tabaka's two-goal game against Saint Benedict last Saturday was the first of her collegiate career. … Wagner heads into Saturday's rematch against Saint Mary's with a team-leading eight goals, one more than both Emily Ach and Flynn. … Molnar owns the team lead with 11 assists, while also sharing the top spot in points (15) with Ach. … Ach and Molnar are two of six Auggies with 10 or more points this season, being joined by McKenna Ellena (14), Flynn (13), Wagner (13), and Nikki Nightengale (10). … Molnar owns a team-best three game-winning goals.… Augsburg has scored eight power-play goals this season, while also adding three shorthanded tallies. … Abby Bollig and Annie Juergens have shared the goaltending duties this season, with Bollig posting a 1.51 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in nine starts, and Juergens owning a 1.82 GAA and .924 save % in seven starts. … Bollig has posted 183 saves, with Juergens close behind with 145. … Bollig owns three shutouts, with Juergens chipping in two. … Augsburg has outscored its opponents 57-29 — 16-6 in the first period, 19-13 in the second, and 22-10 in the third. … Last Saturday's 4-0 win over Saint Benedict marked the eighth time that Augsburg has scored four or more goals in a game this season, with all eight ending in Auggie victories. … Eleven of Augsburg's 18 games have been decided by three or more goals. … Augsburg is unbeaten (11-0-0) when scoring the game's first goal, while going 2-5-0 when its opponent scores first.