WINONA, Minn. — After conceding 12 goals last weekend in a pair of nonconference contests, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men hockey team was hoping to once again find their defensive groove Friday evening.
 
Unfortunately, after 60 minutes against high-powered—and third-ranked— Augsburg, the Cardinals are still searching, as Augsburg erupted for three first-period goals and never looked back in rolling to a 5-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
Saint Mary's coach Bill Moore knew the importance of getting off to a solid start—especially against a team with the firepower that Augsburg possessed.
 
A solid start, however, was not in the cards.
 
For the second time in the last three games, the Cardinals found themselves staring at a three-goal deficit after the first 20 minutes.
 
Despite a handful of quality first-period scoring opportunities—including a near-miss by Chad Cesarz (Jackson, Mich.)—the Auggies struck first when John O'Connor beat Cardinal goaltender Aaron Davis (Mound, Minn.) at 7:59 of the first period.
 
The Auggies kept their foot on the gas, scoring a pair of power play goals in succession, one at 14:45 off a shot by Will Peterson and the other off the stick of Nate Flynn at 18:11, to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
After a relatively quiet start to the second period, the Auggies resumed their offensive onslaught, as O'Connor scored his second of the night during 4 on 4 play at 13:49 to push the Augsburg lead to 4-0 after 40 minutes.  
 
The Cardinal offense finally got things rolling on a 5-on-3 power play, when Kyle Meeh (Fenton, Mo.) lasered a shot past Augsburg goalie Nick Schmit at 3:42 of the third period. Jay Heinle (York, Pa.) was credited with the assist on Meeh's goal, tying teammate Jack Stang (Mendota Heights, Minn.) for the team lead in points with five.
 
That, however, would be the end of a short-lived Cardinal offensive push, and Augsburg tacked on its third power play goal of the game at 9:21 of the third period to seal the victory—the Auggies' seventh straight to start the season.
 
The Cardinals, who were facing their third straight nationally ranked team—having played No. 5 UW-Stevens Point and No. 11 UW-Eau Claire last weekend—fall to 1-1-1 in MIAC play and 2-4-1 overall.
 
The Cardinals and Auggies finish their home-and-home series Saturday night, heading to Ed Saugestad Rink in Minneapolis, Minn., for the 7 p.m. rematch.