St. Cloud, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team dropped the first of a two-game series against Saint Mary's University tonight (Feb. 12^th).  The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the second period, and held on to win the game by a 3-1 score. With the loss, the Blazers drop to 7-13-2 (5-8-2 MIAC). With the win, the Cardinals improve to 8-11-3 (7-6-2 MIAC).
 
In the first period, the Blazers successfully killed two penalties, and held the Cardinals to just four shots in four penalty minutes. The Cardinals kept the Blazers out of net for the rest of the period, and the score was tied 0-0 at the first intermission.
 
The Blazer offense dominated the second period, firing 16 shots on net while holding the Cardinals to just four. Unfortunately, the Cardinals scored twice on those four shots.
 
Four minutes into the second period, Cardinal forward Maddy Wallraff took a pass from Jamie Henderson and sent it past Blazer goalie Angel Hillstrom to give the Cardinals a one-goal lead.
 
The Blazers responded by holding Saint Mary's without a shot for ten straight minutes. However, one shot was all the Cardinals needed to score again. Forward McKenna Parent poked the puck loose from a Blazer in the neutral zone and scored on a breakaway to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
 
Less than 30 seconds after that goal, the Kirk sisters responded for Saint Ben's. Allison Kirk entered the zone on the right side and sent a pass in front of the net for her sister. Stephanie Kirk quickly slapped the puck past the out-of-position Cardinal goalie, cutting the Cardinal lead to one. That goal was Stephanie Kirk's second of the year.
 
With five minutes to play in the third period, the Cardinals added their final goal. Molly Abraham misdirected a slap shot by Katie LeTourneau that popped over Hillstrom's leg pad to seal the game at 3-1.
 
Despite the loss, the Blazers outshot the Cardinals 29-24. First-year goalie Angel Hillstrom made 21 saves on 24 shots.
 
Blazer hockey returns to action tomorrow, when they will host Saint Mary's in the second game of the series. Siri Berg-Moberg, Liz Hermes, Aly Hoffman and Dory Johnson will all be honored as part of senior day festivities. Faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.