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Friday, February 6, 2004 |
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(Through Thursiday, February 5) |
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The Cardinals scored just one goal for the fourth time in their last five games in dropping a 2-1 decision to Augsburg on Jan. 24. … The Gusties dropped games to Bowdoin (1-0) and Williams (6-2) in the final two games of their Eastern trip Tuesday and Wednesday. |
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SMU was 0-1-1 vs. the Gusties a year ago, getting two goals from Emily Kearns in a 3-3 tie in the opener, then failing to score a goal in a 1-0 loss in the second game. |
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Emily Kearns (Hopkins, Minn.) had a hand in all five SMU goals in Friday's 5-2 win over Augsburg — scoring three goals and assisting on Melissa Mondo's (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) two goals. … Kearns' five-point night was one short of the single-game school record of six she shares with teammate Tennie McCabe (Rochester, Minn.). … Mondo scored SMU's lone goal in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Augsburg. … Kearns was held without a point vs. Augsburg Saturday, snapping her point streak at ninegames. … SMU's last three wins have all been by 5-2 counts (vs. Eau Claire, St. Benedict and Augsburg), while in their last four losses, the Cardinals have scored just one goal (vs. St. Benedict, St. Thomas, St. Thomas and Augsburg). … Kearns leads SMU in all three offensive categories — goals (14), assists (13) and points (27). … Goalies Nikki Jung (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Amanda Gage (Lino Lakes, Minn.) have combined to post a 1.59 goals-against-average and a .938 save percentage. |
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WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University hockey team's offense has two gears — high and low.
There is no in-between.
And, after three straight games stuck in low gear, the Cardinals finally got shifted into high, scoring five goals en route to a 5-2 win over Augsburg on Jan. 23.
Unfortunately, as quickly as the Cardinals shifted gears, they down-shifted right back, as SMU once again found itself back to square one — as in one goal — in a 2-1 loss to Augsburg in the rematch the following day.
“We came out in that first period (of the second game) and did not play well at all,” said SMU coach Duncan Ryhorchuk, whose team trailed the Auggies 2-0 after the game’s first 20 minutes. “It was almost as if we just figured (Augsburg) was going to just roll over and play dead after the way we beat them (the night before).
“We played a little better in the second, and a lot better in the third, but it still wasn't anywhere near the type of effort we got in the first game.”
“Hopefully we can bounce back,” continued Ryhorchuk, whose team has had nearly two weeks in which to get its offense out of its goal-scoring funk. “I think the break came at a good time — we were able to rest up a bit, work on some things in practice, and, hopefully, we’re ready to go.”
With Gustavus in town tonight, the Cardinals had better be ready.
While SMU rested last week, the Gusties have played three games in the last week — beating Colby (2-1), before falling to East powers Bowdoin (1-0) and beating Williams (6-2). Gustavus, which has not lost a conference game since getting swept by St. Thomas on Nov. 21-22, enters tonight’s game having won 10 of its last 12 games.
“We know it’s going to be a tough series, but then, every series (in the MIAC) is tough,” said Ryhorchuk, whose team went 0-1-1 vs. the Gusties a year ago. “They key for us is, we have to finish better around the net. If we can do that, and get a complete team effort, we’ll be fine.”