MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — It was another "opening night" for the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team Friday evening, as the Cardinals kicked off Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play against St. Thomas.
 
Unfortunately for coach Greg Moore and the Cardinals, this opener did not end as well as the first one.
 
The Cardinals—coming off back-to-back wins over Marian and St. Norbert to kick off the 2017-18 season two weeks ago—could not shut down the high-powered Tommie offense, as UST erupted for three goals in less than a three-minute span midway through the third period in cruising to a 5-0 conference win over Saint Mary's at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.
 
Saint Mary's held the Tommies' offense in check for most of the first two periods, allowing just single goals in each—Rachel Werdin netted a first-period tally and Demi Cooper finding the back of the net in the second—as St. Thomas clung to a 2-0 lead heading into the game's final 20 minutes.
 
In a span of 2:47 midway through the third period, however, that 2-0 nailbiter ballooned to a 5-0 St. Thomas advantage, thanks to goals by Kaylee Druk, Allie Borgstrom, and Isabel Bianci.
 
The Tommies never let the Cardinals get their offense on track, limiting Saint Mary's to just 14 shots on goal—all of which were stopped by UST goalie Kenzie Torpy.
 
Saint Mary's goalie Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.), meanwhile, recorded a career-high 37 saves—including 16 in the second period alone.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-0 MIAC, 2-1-0 overall) get another shot at the eighth-ranked Tommies on Saturday, when the two teams head to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for a 2 p.m. conference contest.