ST. PETER, Minn. — For the second straight day, the Saint Mary's women's hockey team (6-6-2, 2-4-2) found itself skating into a shootout, but this time the outcome flipped in the Cardinals' favor. The Cardinals earned a shootout victory over No.11 Gustavus Adolphus (6-7-2, 3-3-2) after the teams battled to a 1–1 draw through regulation and overtime. 

The Cardinals sealed the win in the fourth round of the shootout, with Sophia Paduano burying the deciding goal.

Saint Mary's struck first and set the tone early against the nationally ranked Gusties. After generating early pressure, the Cardinals capitalized on a first-period power play when Celia Midtbo found the back of the net at the 17:28 mark just six seconds into the advantage. Kenzie Meland and Reese Heitzman picked up the assists on the play. 

Gustavus pushed offensively throughout the period, but goaltender Magali Fillion turned aside every chance she faced to preserve the 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The Cardinals were tested in the second period, beginning with an early penalty kill just 22 seconds in. Saint Mary's weathered the storm behind key saves from Fillion and a timely blocked shot from Destinee Hoffmann keeping the Gusties off the scoreboard as the period ended scoreless.

Gustavus broke through early in the third period, tying the game just 52 seconds in. Saint Mary's had multiple chances to reclaim the lead with power-play opportunities later in the period but couldn't convert. 

Fillion continued to stand tall in net, and regulation ended with the teams locked at 1-1.

Overtime featured end-to-end action, with the Cardinals generating some of the best chances. Heitzman fired off three quick shots, while Mikayla Vasilevich, Leah Parker, and Midtbo all tested the Gusties' goaltender. 

Despite the pressure, neither team could find the game-winner, sending the contest to a shootout for the second day in a row.

This time, Saint Mary's delivered. 

After three rounds without a goal, Paduano stepped up in the fourth round and converted the decisive attempt. Fillion completed the effort by stopping all Gustavus shootout chances, sealing the Cardinals' shootout win and capping the weekend in a conference split.

The Cardinals will host the Saint Benedict Bennies both Friday and Saturday next week for their next conference matchup.