WINONA, Minn. - The Cardinal men's hockey team faced off against Concordia College in the first game of their two-game series on Friday night. The Cardinals landed five different goal scorers in a dominant 5-0 shutout.
 
The conference matchup began with a physical intensity, and the Cardinals were ready to match it. They quickly gained control in the first period, outshooting the Cobbers. The Cobbers got a bit too aggressive, leading to the first penalty of the game and giving the Cardinals a power-play opportunity. 
 
Senior Gabe Potyk slid the puck across the face of the Cobber goaltender, finding freshman Joona Juntunen, who buried it to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead with five minutes left in the first period. 
 
The fans threw their teddy bears onto the ice in celebration during the Teddy Bear Toss night!
The Cardinals tightened up in the final minutes of the period, allowing the Cobbers just two shots and keeping the score tied as they headed into the second period.
 
Saint Mary's took a step back to start the second period as the Cobbers seized control, winning face-offs and forcing turnovers at center ice, leading to several breakaway opportunities. 
Senior goaltender AJ Ruskowski was unbreakable for the Cardinals, making a series of remarkable saves to preserve the shutout in the second period. He recorded 15 saves.
 
Sophomore Carter Newpower scored a stunning breakaway goal at 14:12, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead, with assists from teammates Cole Mickel and Warner Young. The Cardinals weren't done there—just three minutes later, sophomore Liam McInnis added his second goal of the season, securing an insurance goal for the team.
 
The Cardinals went into the final period up 3-0.
 
The Cardinals wasted no time, taking a commanding four-goal lead with an early goal from sophomore Marc Fletemeyer, assisted by freshman Tommy Wright, just two minutes into the period. The goal set the tone for the rest of the game.
 
To cap off a stellar night, Young scored the final goal of the game making it 5-0 on yet another power play with five minutes remaining and sealed the deal. It was a complete team performance by the Cardinals squad. Ruskowski earns his first shutout of the season!
 
The Cardinals jump back in action tomorrow hosting Concordia at 2 p.m. to close out the weekend series.