ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Playing on Saturday afternoons seems to suit Saint Mary's University of Minnesota goalie Tori Herrmann (Elk River, Minn.) just fine.
 
For the second straight weekend, the Cardinals' senior goalie has been a virtual brick wall in game two of their two-game MIAC series, as Herrmann recorded her second straight Saturday shutout, stopping all 21 shots she faced in leading Saint Mary's to a 3-0 victory over Saint Benedict at the Municipal Athletic Complex.
 
"This was a big win—a big sweep for us," said Saint Mary's coach Terry Mannor, whose Cardinals beat the Blazers 3-1 on Friday—and remain right in the thick of the MIAC Playoff race with two games remaining. "We knew coming into the weekend that we needed a sweep—and the ladies came through.
 
"We didn't play a very good first period, but once the puck dropped for the second, we really too control."
 
After a scoreless first period, McKenna Parent (Anoka, Minn.) got the Cardinals on the board, scoring a shorthanded goal—her second tally in as many nights—3:55 into the middle period.
 
Lindsay Paschke (New Prague, Minn.) pushed the Saint Mary's lead to 2-0 right before the second period ended, and Maddy Wallraff (Blaine, Minn.)—coming off her first collegiate two-point night on Friday—added her second of the weekend midway through the third to seal the win.
 
Herrmann was at her best in the first period, stopping all 12 Blazer shots, before adding seven saves in the second and two in the third. Dory Johnson recorded 18 saves in goal for Saint Benedict.
 
The Cardinals (8-6-2 MIAC, 9-11-3 overall) close out the regular-season next weekend, hosting St. Catherine in a 7 p.m. conference contest on Friday at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena, before heading to Drake Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for the 2 p.m. rematch.