MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's hockey team entered Sunday's nonconference showdown against St. Thomas on the heels of scoring a season-high four goals in a 4-0 win over Saint Benedict.
 
Unfortunately, the Cardinals could have used a few of those goals against the Tommies.
 
St. Thomas scored twice in the second period and added an empty-netter in the third, as the Tommies dealt the Cardinals a 3-0 setback at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.
 
The Tommies peppered the Saint Mary's net with 47 shots, and Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.) — who posted a 31-save shutout in blanking the Bennies on Saturday — was certainly up to the task, making a season-high 44 saves.
 
The Cardinals' offense, however, was no match for St. Thomas' stifling defense, as the Tommies held Saint Mary's to just 11 shots on goal — all 11 stopped by goalie Eryn Cooley.
 
After a scoreless first period, St. Thomas broke the ice at 7:50 of the middle frame, ,as Grace Weber beat Ziakas for her first goal of the season. The Tommies would add a second, second-period goal — this one off the stick of Alli Pitlick with three seconds remaining in the clock – giving UST a 2-0 cushion heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
Ziakas and the Cardinals held the Tommies at bay — but could not generate any offense of their own — and Fiona Claugherty would net an empty-net goal at 18:49 to round out the scoring.
 
The Cardinals (2-6-2 overall) will close out their season on Tuesday, ,playing host to St. Thoas (6-2-0) in a 7 p.m. nonconference game at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.