ST. PETER, Minn. — Heading into Friday night's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Gustavus, Saint Mary's University's Tim McNamara (Hastings, Minn.) had only appeared in eight collegiate games in his career — and only had one assist for show for his efforts.

The sophomore forward finally notched career goal No. 1 Friday night — and it could not have come at a better time.

McNamara banged in a rebound off a Russ Swanson (Mounds View, Minn.) shot with less than eight minutes remaining in the third period as the Cardinals rallied for a 3-3 tie with the Gusties.

"It was a good tie for us — to come back the way we did, on the road, that was great to see," said SMU coach Don Olson. "There was a period of about 10 minutes in the second period where I felt (Gustavus) kind of took it to us, but we came out flying the third and really did a nice job."

SMU rallied from a goal down on three separate occasions en route to the tie — getting a goal from Swanson late in the first period to tie the game at 1-1, getting a goal from Al Schumacher (Oakdale, Minn.) to even the game at 2-2 early in the third period, and then getting McNamara's tally midway through the third to tie it a final time, 3-3.

"The guys never let down, they never stopped working and that was the key," said Olson. "We were down a goal three different times, and each time we just kept battling. "Hopefully we can carry some of that momentum over into (Saturday's rematch at the SMU Ice Arena).".