WINONA, Minn. — The season-opener didn't go quite the way the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team had hopped, and the Cardinals were looking for a much more favorable outcome in their home- and conference-opener Friday evening against Hamline.
 
And a more favorable outcome is just what the Cardinals got — a much more favorable outcome.
 
Saint Mary's scored a pair of second-period goals, and got a 24-save shutout performance from Matt Sankner (Pennington, N.J.) — as the Cardinals kicked off conference play with a 2-0 victory over the Pipers at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
After a scoreless first period, thanks in part to a pair of acrobatic saves by SMU goalie Matt Sankner (Pennington, N.J.), the Cardinals finally broke through midway through the second period, as Bud Winter (St. Louis, Mo.) found the back of the net for the second straight game to give Saint Mary's the 1-0 lead.
 
Colin Tushie (Colorado Springs, Colo.) gave the Cardinals a little breathing room, scoring his first of the season with less than two minutes remaining in the middle frame to push SMU's advantage to 2-0 heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
And two goals was more than enough with Sankner between the pipes, as the junior stopped everything the Pipers threw at him in posting his second collegiate shutout.
 
Saint Mary's (1-0-0 MIAC, 1-2-0 overall) is back in action on Saturday, when they head to TRIA Rink in St. Paul, Minn., for a 5 p.m. conference rematch with the Pipers.
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