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Blugolds' 4-goal outburst too much for Cardinals in 5-2 setback
WINONA, Minn. — A year ago, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team gave coach Terry Mannor his first collegiate coaching victory with a 5-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire.
Tuesday evening, the Blugolds returned the favor, handing Mannor and the Cardinals their first loss of the 2005-06 season, scoring four unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 victory at the SMU Ice Arena.
"We certainly didn't match our intensity of last Friday," said Mannor, whose team opened the season with a 2-2 tie vs. UW-River Falls last Friday — thanks in large part to the 50-save effort of goalie Nikki Jung (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.). "(Against River Falls) we played so hard for three periods — but tonight, we lacked that intensity.
"And with each period, we seemed to let down even more."
SMU got a goal from Rachel Harrison (Madison, Wis.) as the two teams traded goals in the opening period. Jessica Ribish (Elm Grove, Wis.) gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead early in the second period, but the Blugolds responded with four unanswered goals — including three in the third period — to seal the win.
"This game was a good learning experience," said Mannor, whose team returns to action this weekend, traveling to UW-Superior for a pair of nonconference games. "Hopefully everyone learned that we can't afford to have an 'off' night. We have to work hard — for three periods — if we are going to be successful."