WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University and St. Catherine women's soccer teams headed into Wednesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener as mirror images of each other.
 
The Cardinals took to the turf at Ochrymowycz Field sporting a 3-1-0 overall record, with all three victories coming via shutout — including a 6-0 win over UMN Morris.
 
The Wildcats took to the turf at Ochrymowycz Field sporting a 3-1-0 overall record, with all three victories coming via shutout — including a 5-0 win over UMN Morris.
 
Someone's shutout run had to come to an end when the two teams clashed on Wednesday.
 
And, unfortunately for Saint Mary's, it was the Cardinals', as St. Catherine scored single goals in each half in dealing Saint Mary's a 2-0 conference setback.
 
Ari Green broke through for the Wildcats just over 19 minutes into the first half, taking a pass from Amanda Elton and beating SMU goalkeeper Anna Peckosh (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
 
St. Catherine maintained that one-goal advantage through the remainder of the first half, but did not wait long after the break to push its lead to 2-0. Elton was on the scoring end this time around, and with a smothering defense that limited the Cardinals to just four shots on goal, two goals was more than enough.
 
Peckosh was busy between the pipes for the Cardinals, stopping five of SCU's seven shots on goal, while SCU goalkeeper Kate Praetz stopped all four SMU shots on goal.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-0 MIAC, 3-2-0 overall) are back in action on Saturday, when they travel to Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis, Minn., for a 7:30 p.m. conference showdown.
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