WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's hockey coach Bill Moore knew the importance of getting off to a good start in the team's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown against Augsburg Friday evening.
 
After all, the Cardinals headed into the first game of their two-game series with the league-leading Auggies just 1-8-0 in games in which their opponent scored first. Augsburg, meanwhile, was 8-1-1 when netting the game's opening goal.
 
And, unfortunately for Moore and the Cardinals, the saying proved true—numbers never lie.
 
Augsburg scored four unanswered goals—including three in the first period—in handing the Cardinals a 4-1 conference setback at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
"For some reason, we did not come out with much jump—we played very poorly in the first period, and that was disappointing," said Moore. "I was very happy with the way we battled in the second and third periods, but we can't be putting ourselves in four-goal holes and expect to be able to dig  out way out.
 
"Give Augsburg credit, they played very well—we just weren't able to match their effort tonight."
 
The Auggies took control early, scoring three times in the game's opening 20 minutes, as Drew Anderson, Will Peterson, and Erik Brent all found the back of the net to Augsburg a commanding 3-0 advantage.
 
Augsburg pushed its lead to 4-0 on a fluke goal less than two minutes into the second period, when Jake Tugnutt's (Peterborough, Ontario) clearing attempt deflected off an Augsburg attacker and right onto the stick of Trevor Stewart, who had a wide-open net to shoot at.
 
The Cardinals finally broke through eight minutes into the middle period, as Jared Johnson (Hartland, Wis.) beat Augsburg goalie Jordyn Kaufer for his seventh goal of the season.
 
That, however, would be the extent of the Cardinals outburst.
 
Tugnutt finished with 22 saves in goal for the Cardinals, while Kaufer kicked out 21 of Saint Mary's 22 shots.
 
Saint Mary's gets another shot at the Auggies on Saturday, as the two teams head to Ed Saugestad Rink in Minneapolis, Minn., for the second game of their two-game conference series. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.