SMU Women's Hockey

SUPERIOR, Wis. — For the second night in a row, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team played UW-Superior dead even for two periods.

Unfortunately for SMU, a collegiate hockey game is three periods long — and that third period did in the Cardinals, again.

SMU goalie Amanda Gage (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Yellowjackets goalie Melissa Kunzelman matched each other save-for-save through the first two periods Saturday, as the two teams headed into the third period tied 0-0.

In that final 20 minutes, however, it was the Yellowjackets who had the upper hand — for the second straight night.

Less than 24 hours after giving up two Yellowjacket goals in the third period of a 4-2 loss, UW-Superior did it to the Cardinals again on Saturday, as the Yellowjackets beat Gage twice en route to a 2-1 win and a sweep of the nonconference series.

"It's hard to feel disappointed when you played one of the best teams in the nation to a tie for four of six periods," said SMU coach Terry Mannor, whose team battled the Yellowjackets to a 2-2 tie after one period of Friday's opener, only to give up two third-period goals in the 4-2 loss. "We made some mistakes that cost us in both games — and when you are playing a team as good as (Superior) is, you can't afford to do that.

"If anything, I think this team learned that they have the ability to play with anybody — but we've got to find a way to eliminate those mistakes."

Gage and Kunzelman stole center stage for the first two periods, as Gage stopped all 20 shots she faced in Periods 1 and 2 — including 15 in the first, when UW-Superior held a 15-1 advantage in shots on goal — while Kunzelman was kicked out eight SMU shots..

Then the offenses kicked in.

Brianne Mosher netted a powerplay goal eight minutes into the final period and Alicia Cowieson made it 2-0 three minutes later, before Jessica Ribish (Elm Grove, Wis.) got the Cardinals on the board with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.

"It's been a tough start to the season, but we are in no way in panic mode," said Mannor, whose team has now dropped three straight after opening the season with a 2-2 tie vs. UW-River Falls. "Right now everyone is working hard and playing well mentally, which is all I can ask of them. If they can continue to put forth this type of effort, the wins are going to come."