By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's hockey team certainly isn't making things easy on themselves in their quest for a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post-season berth.
 
The Cardinals entered the weekend's two-game conference series against Saint Benedict sitting in sixth place, two points back of Bethel — which was clinging to the fifth and final post-season slot.
 
And after 60 minutes of hockey, the Cardinals were left still trailing the Royals by two points — with one game left in the regular season.
 
Saint Benedict scored the game's only goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation to deal the Cardinals a 1-0 conference setback at the Dave Torrey Ice Arena — and force Saint Mary's into a must-win situation in Saturday's rematch with the Bennies.
 
A Cardinal win over CSB on Saturday ­— and losses by both Bethel and St. Catherine — and Saint Mary's would punch its ticket to a second-straight MIAC Tournament appearance.
 
Friday's contest was a defensive battle — thanks to the play between the pipes of Cardinal goalie Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.) and Bennie netminder Ally Frantzick.
 
And it would be Frantzick would win the duel — thanks to a goal by Mollie Wise with 2:48 remaining in regulation that accounted for the only goal of the 60-minute affair.
 
Ziakas finished the evening with 38 saves for the Cardinals, while Frantzick stopped all 34 Saint Mary's shots for the Bennies.
 
The Cardinals (5-10-2 MIAC, 8-13-3 overall) and Bennies (6-11-0 MIAC, 11-11-1 overall) are right back in action at the Dave Torrey Arena in St. Cloud, Minn., on Saturday for the must-win rematch. Opening face-off is set for 2 p.m.