WINONA, Minn. — The first time the Saint Mary's University and Aurora men's hockey teams squared off, the Spartans took advantage of a lackluster performance in handing the Cardinals a 6-3 nonconference setback.
 
When the two teams squared off again Friday evening in the first game of their two-game nonconference series at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena, the Cardinals made sure there would be no repeat performance—at least in the won-loss column—scoring three times in the third period to break open a 4-4 tie and cruise to a 7-4 victory.
 
"It may seem hard to believe after scoring seven goals, but that was far from our best effort," said Saint Mary's coach Bill Moore. "But I told the guys after the game, you aren't going to be at your best every game of the season—there are going to be times when you need to find a way to win when you are not at your best, and tonight, that's what we did.
 
"We'll take the win, no question about that, but we have to be better­."
 
The first period proved to be a wild one, as the two teams combined for six goals—including two in the final 22 seconds.
 
Nick Albergo (Elmhurst, Ill.) got the Cardinals off and running, scoring his fourth of the season on the power play at 6:29.
 
The lead did not last long, however, as Vincent Currao and Conor Jonasson scored four minutes apart midway through the period to give Aurora a 2-1 advantage.
 
And the first-period fireworks were just getting started.
 
Landon Farrell (Rochester, Minn.) netted his second of the season off assists from Albergo and Kelvin Walz (Woodbury, Minn.) to pull the Cardinals even, and Martin Gruse (Trenton, Mich.) gave Saint Mary's another short-lived lead with his fifth of the season at 19:38.
 
Once again, however, the lead did not last long, as Ian Sweeney beat the first-period buzzer, scoring at 19:59 to make it a 3-3 game after 20 minutes.
 
The second period proved to be far less explosive, with both teams finding the back of the net once—Jonasson netting his second of the game at 5:03 to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead, and Kellen Wasell (Edmonds, Wash.) answering nine minutes later—to make it a 4-4 game heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
And that final 20 minutes belonged to the Cardinals, who got goals from Albergo, Gruse, and Jared Johnson (Hartland, Wis.) in sealing the victory—and extending their unbeaten streak to seven straight (5-0-2).
 
Phil Heinle (York, Pa.) picked up the win in goal for the Cardinals, making 19 saves, while Aurora goalie Jared Rutledge finished with 32 saves.
 
The Cardinals (5-2-2 overall) are back in action on Sunday, when they host Aurora in the second game of their two-game nonconference series. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.