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Saint Mary's junior Tom Healy finds a solitary moment during pre-game at the SMU Ice Arena Nov. 12. The Cardinals broke a 19-game winless streak last week. (Photo by Dave Ferber/Winona360)

The St. Mary’s University men’s hockey team opened their 2010 conference season with a win over Concordia at the SMU Ice Arena in Winona, Minn., Friday, Nov. 12. 

After a scoreless first period, the Cardinal’s Tom Healy scored the first SMU goal at 7:40 in the second period. St. Mary’s never lost the lead, earning a 5-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Cobbers at home in a game that was marked by 24 total penalties and aggressive play by Concordia.

“We knew that was going to come," SMU Coach Bill Moore said. "That’s the way they play. We talked all week about maintaining our discipline and not taking retaliation penalties.”

At one point in the second period, Concordia managed to get four players in the penalty box at one time.

“We want to play a fast-paced high-tempo game, and teams know if they’re going to play us and they want to have the upper hand they gotta come and hit us,” Moore said.

Tim Wolford scored in the second period, and Blake Zemaitis, Nick Carson and Brad Denney all contributed third period goals for the Cardinals. Concordia’s Pat Dietz scored for the Cobbers at 6:07 in the third period. Marc Harrie assisted on that goal, and scored unassisted at 9:40 in the third period for Concordia’s final point.

SMU is working hard to rebuild after a tough 2009 season, according to Moore, with 14 freshmen and only three seniors suiting up for the Cardinals. The win was the second for the Cardinals this season.