WINONA, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's hockey team saw its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff chances come to an end with a 5-2 loss at Saint Mary's University (Minn.) on Friday night at Saint Mary's Ice Arena.

Saint Mary's (7-14-3, 6-7-2 MIAC) broke open a 1-1 game late in the second period with three-straight goals to pull away for the victory and secure its spot in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs. St. Olaf (5-16-2, 3-10-2 MIAC) needed to sweep the Cardinals in regulation and get help elsewhere in order to remain in the playoff hunt.

After Carter Dahl put Saint Mary's ahead 3:08 into the contest, the Oles struck back on the power play at 13:48 through junior Luke Ranallo's second goal of the season. Senior Emil Hiiri and first year Mitch Dolter picked up assists on Ranallo's power-play tally.

The score remained locked at 1-1 until late in the second period, when Tommy Stang scored on the power play at 16:54 to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead after two periods. Stang set up Ryan Carko's eventual shorthanded game-winner at 8:51 of the third to stretch Saint Mary's lead to 3-1.

Needing three goals to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Oles pulled senior Erick Hancock with 4:02 left, but Jack Hatton netted an empty-netter 45 seconds later to make it a 4-1 game. Sophomore Dylan Kooner recorded his first-career goal from Sawyer Jacobson and Kyle Rimbach 1:16 after Hatton's tally, but Owen Sikich grabbed Saint Mary's second empty-netter of the late stages with 1:45 left to end any though of a dramatic late comeback.

The Cardinals held a slim, 25-24, advantage in shots on goal in the game. Hancock made 20 saves in the loss for the Oles, while Nick Nast posted 20 of his 22 saves over the first two periods to pick up the victory.

St. Olaf wraps up its season on Senior Night on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. when Saint Mary's visits St. Olaf Ice Arena for the first time.