NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Sophomore Jackie LaFaive scored her first goal of the season to make it a one-goal game late on, but St. Catherine University finished off a sweep of the St. Olaf College women's hockey team with a 3-1 win on Saturday afternoon at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

St. Catherine (8-8-0, 5-5-0 MIAC) scored twice in the first five minutes of the second period after a scoreless opening 20 minutes and held the two-goal lead until LaFaive made it a 2-1 game with 4:39 remaining for St. Olaf (0-15-2, 0-1-0 MIAC). Laura Denchfield ensured the win for the Wildcats by scoring with one minute remaining to cap her second-straight two-goal game this weekend.

Neither team was able to score in the opening period but the Wildcats started the second period on the power play and cashed in just 28 seconds in on Denchfield's first goal of the afternoon. Just less than four minutes later, Emilee Anderson doubled the visitors' lead at the 4:23 mark.

St. Catherine held on to the two-goal lead until LaFaive tipped in a shot by junior Shannon O'Brien from the left point, deflecting the puck in under the bar after first year Samantha Martin got the puck to O'Brien.

LaFaive's goal was the first of her sophomore season after she netted five a year ago. O'Brien's assist was her first of the season and Martin's was her second.

The Wildcats got an insurance goal from Denchfield, her fourth of the weekend, with one minute remaining. Denchfield's 12 goals this season are tied for the most in the conference.

Elizabeth Kubicek earned the victory with a 23-save performance for St. Kate's. Three goalies saw time in goal for St. Olaf. In her return from injury, senior Sam Klemann made the start and suffered the loss, while sophomore Grace Boswell-Healey had a team-high 19 saves.

St. Olaf plays host to the College of Saint Benedict on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the series opener between the Oles and Bennies.