WINONA, Minn. – The Saint Mary's women's hockey team faced their first conference opponent, the Hamline Pipers, on Friday night in their first game of a two game series this weekend. The No. 15 ranked Cardinals were taken down by the No. 18 ranked Pipers in a 3-0 shutout.
 
Neither team could find the back of the net with each opportunity they were given in the first period. The Cardinals landed the first power play of the game at the ninth minute hauling in six attempts with their extra skater.
 
In the remaining minutes of the first period, the Pipers controlled the puck on the Saint Mary's zone. The Pipers recorded double the amount of shots on goal as the Cardinals, 18-9.
 
Reese Heitzman had any early look on a breakaway but the outstretched arms of the Piper goalie made the same two minutes into the second period. Heitzman earned a second breakaway opportunity after intercepting a pass at middle ice eight minutes in. Again, saved by the Piper goal tender.
 
The Pipers turned their defensive into offense to net the first goal of the game at the 14^th minute of period two after serving a pass backwards for the go-ahead goal. Mikayla Vasilevich recorded the last shot for the Cardinals at the 15^th minute of the period.
 
With two minutes left, the Pipers netted an insurance goal taking a 2-0 lead going into the third period.
 
The Cardinals Celia Midtbo and Kenzie Meland started the last period taking the first few shots to set an early tone. That did not stop the Pipers as they landed the third goal of the game as 11^th minute to take the three goal lead.
 
The Cardinals started a late rally of shot attempts after earning a power play and taking four quality looks at the net, but fell short of a goal.
 
Ultimately, the Cardinals were shutout by the Pipers at home. Goal keeper Celeste Rimstad recorded a season high 33 saves.
 
The Cardinals will get another swing at the Pipers tomorrow in St. Paul for a 4 p.m. puck drop