ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University hockey team fell 4-2 in MIAC play hosting the Saint Mary's University Cardinals at Drake Arena. 

Saint Mary's struck early with back-to-back goals in the first period just 1:19 apart to grab a 2–0 lead. The Wildcats punched back late in the frame when Ana Myers buried her seventh of the season at 15:23, cutting the deficit to one.

St. Catherine found momentum again in the second period and made it count on special teams. After drawing a tripping call, Halle Dunleavy cleaned up a rebound on the power play at 9:59, with Paige Loidolt picking up the assist to lock the game at 2–2.

But penalties swung things the other way late in the period. A Saint Mary's power-play goal at 17:20 regained the lead for the Cardinals, and they added insurance in the third with an even-strength tally at 15:27.

St. Catherine generated looks down the stretch — outshooting SMU 7–5 in the third — but couldn't solve netminder Magali Fillion, who finished with 22 saves.

The Wildcats went 1-for-3 on the power play and won 31 faceoffs to Saint Mary's 21, led by Myers, who went 16–7 at the dot. St. Kate's also blocked 13 shots, with Isabella Brady, Samantha Bogen and Raechel Painovich each posting multiple blocks. Goaltender Lea Grassia turned aside 16 shots in the effort.

The Wildcats travel to Winona on Saturday for game two of the MIAC series. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 pm.