Women's hockey stumbles in first game of 2006

Cardinals Melissa Mondo and Laura Mueller each netted a pair of goals as St. Mary's (3-7-2, 2-3-2 in the MIAC) snapped a two-game slide.

Mueller started the scoring at 2:29 of the first period for her first goal of the season. The goal gave St. Mary's a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period. 

The Pipers (2-7-3, 1-5-1) answered back to tie the game early in the second on Brianna Miller's fourth goal of the season at 6:34. She was assisted by Cortney Hansen and Emily Dusold.

St. Mary's would add goals by Mondo and Mueller before first-year forward Kate Raasch tallied her six goal of the year at 18:22 to make the score 3-2 at the second intermission.

Madeline Loftus and Mondo each would add goals in the third period.

Piper netminder Alexandra Strunk made 36 saves in the contest while Nikki Jung stopped 29 shots for the victory.

Hamline went 1 for 6 on the power play. The Cardinals were 0 for 2 with an extra skater.

The two team will meet again Saturday night at Drake Arena. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.