By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — After erupting for seven goals in a 7-2 win over Hamline last Saturday, the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team headed into Friday's game against St. Olaf looking to keep its offense shifted into high gear.
 
It didn't quite work out that way.
 
In fact, it took more than 55 minutes for the Cardinals to net the game's first goal — and it took the Oles more than 58 minutes to net their first goal, as the two teams skated to a 1-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tie.
 
Kyle Meeh (Fenton, Mo.) gave the Cardinals the extra conference point, scoring one minute into the 3-on-3 second overtime — keeping Saint Mary's slim conference tournament hopes alive.
 
With the two points, the Cardinals are sitting tied with Bethel for sixth place, two points back of both Gustavus and St. Thomas in the chase for one of the five MIAC Tournament berths with three games remaining.
 
Saint Mary's finally broke the scoreless stalemate at 15:45 of the third period on a goal by Ian Currie (Franklin, Tenn.) — with assists going to Seth Kamrass (Peachtree Corners, Ga.) and Alex Rickoff (Winona, Minn.).
 
It may have taken the Cardinals more than 55 minutes to score the game's first goal, but it took less than three minutes for the Oles to net the second — getting the equalizer off the stick of Tyler Uravage with 1:50 remaining in regulation.
 
Neither team was able to score in the first five-minute overtime, setting the stage for Meeh's heroics in the second overtime.
 
Al Rogers (New Haven, Conn.) finished with 38 saves in goal for the Cardinals — including 17 in the second, 11 in the third, and three more in the first overtime. Noah Parker kicked out 30 of Saint Mary's 31 shots in goal for St. Olaf.
 
The Cardinals 6-6-1 MIAC, 9-11-2 overall) and Oles (1-9-3 MIAC, 3-16-3 overall) now head to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for the second game of their two-game conference series on Saturday. Opening face-off is slated for 7 p.m.