WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's hockey fans were hoping for some heat from the Cardinals Friday in their home- and conference opener against rival St.  Thomas.
 
And the Cardinals did not disappoint, dropping the Tommies in a decisive 4-1 decision at Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
The Cardinals, who are fresh off a weekend split at the MIAC Hockey Showcase—falling to Saint John's 1-0 last Saturday, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Bethel the following day—prevailed under the pressure, thanks to a strong second-period push and a solid performance by goaltender Aaron Davis (Mound, Minn.), who finished with 25 saves, several of the acrobat variety.
 
After battling through a back-and-forth, scoreless first period, the Cardinals opened the scoring when Jude Warner (Pickerington, Ohio) rifled a shot past Tommie goaltender Benjamin Myers off a pass from Dylan Robertson (Alpharetta, Ga.) six minutes into the second period.
 
Less than five minutes later, Jay Heinle (York, Pa.) scored his second of the season, burying an unassisted goal low and just inside the left post.
 
After a flurry of penalties on both sides to kick off the third period, the Tommies cut the Cardinal lead to 2-1, scoring a power-play goal by Tanner Barnes with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation.
 
That, however, would be the only goal UST would get past Davis, and the Cardinals would add empty net tallies by Heinle at 18:27 of the third period, and by Jack Stang (Mendota Heights, Minn.) 37 seconds later, to seal the deal.
 
The Cardinals and the Tommies complete their home-and-home series tomorrow in Mendota Heights, Minn., in a 7 p.m. matchup at St. Thomas Ice Arena.