WINONA, Minn. — Tony Guinn was all smiles after watching his Saint Mary's University women's soccer team shut out Marian 5-0 in a nonconference game last Saturday.

The victory was their third of the season, equaling the total number of wins the Cardinals accumulated last season — and the season's just half over.

"(Saint Mary's) finished 3-14-1 last year," noted Guinn. "It's a great feeling to surpass that mark at the halfway point of this season."

But that wasn't the only thing for Guinn to be proud of.

Saturday's win also wasn't just another rerun of the Amy Cory (Crystal Lake, Ill.) Show. After scoring at least one goal in each game in which the Cardinals scored — including SMU's lone goal in a 4-1 loss to Augsburg last Wednesday — Cory was pointless vs. Marian.

Freshman Ashley Kirkman (Stillwater, Minn.) posted two first half unassisted goals to record the first collegiate goals of her career, while Abby D'Acquisto (Racine, Wis.), who scored at the game's 38-minute mark, and Stefanie Lamusga (Prior Lake, Minn.), who netted SMU's final game, also netted their first collegiate goals.

The Cardinals, who held a commanding 3-0 lead at the half, made it 4-0 when Maria Laudenbach (Long Lake, Minn.) found the net for Saint Mary's 12 minutes into the second half.

"It was great to get everyone into the game — I gave everyone a chance to prove themselves on the field, and they all did a phenomenal job," said Guinn, whose team dominated the Sabres, outshooting Marian 25-0. "That's a great feeling for a coach.

"That was a good win for us," continued Guinn, whose team has now won three of its last four games. "Hopefully, we are starting to build a little momentum — momentum that will carry us into this week's conference games against Gustavus and Concordia."