WINONA, Minn. — It didn't take long for the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota to take control in Wednesday's nonconference game against Bethany Lutheran.
 
Fifteen minutes, to be exact.
 
The Cardinals scored two goals just three minutes apart before the game even reached the 16^th minute, as Saint Mary's cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Vikings at Ochrymowycz Field.
 
"It was a great team shutout tonight," said Saint Mary's coach Pete Watkins. "Our guys were committed to winning the ball back early, and really took pride in defending. 
 
"I thought it was one of our best defensive efforts in several years."
 
Just how good was the Cardinal defense? Saint Mary's held the visiting Vikings to just one shot attempt—and zero shots on goal.
 
And while the Cardinals' smothering defense was impressing their head coach, Saint Mary's offense was equally as impressive.
 
Sean Butcher (Cave Creek, Ariz.) got the Cardinals on the board in the 12^th minute, scoring his second of the season off an assist from Garrett Grunke (Verona, Wis.).
 
Three minutes later, it was Grunke's turn to find the back of the net, as the junior netted his first of the season—and first of his collegiate career—taking a feed from Josh Balsiger and beating BLC goalkeeper Matt Bitter.
 
The Cardinals would maintain that two-goal lead into the halftime intermission, before pushing that advantage to 3-0 on a goal by Killian Pugsley (Jupiter, Fla.)—his first in a Cardinal uniform—just 54 seconds into the second half. Jared Wolt (Farmington, Minn.) was credited with the assist.
 
Nate Levy (Byron, Minn.) and Adam Johannsen (Faribault, Minn.) combined to earn the shutout in goal—neither needing to make a save. Bittle, meanwhile, finished with six saves in goal for the Vikings.
 
The Cardinals (2-1-0 overall) take to the road this weekend, traveling to Fond du Lac, Wis., for a 1 p.m. nonconference game against Marian on Saturday, before heading to Mequon, Wis., for a 1 p.m. nonconference showdown with Concordia (Wis.) a day later.