WINONA, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's hockey team rode a four-goal first period to a 5-3 victory over Saint Mary's University (Minn.) on Saturday evening at Saint Mary's Ice Arena.

Five different skaters scored in the win for St. Olaf (4-16-3, 2-9-3 MIAC), which netted four goals in less than less than six minutes in a first period that featured a combined six goals. Saint Mary's (9-12-2, 6-7-1 MIAC) scored the lone goal of the second period to make it a one-goal game, but the Oles held on in the third and got an empty-netter from senior Kyle Rimbach with 1:02 to go to seal the win.

After the Cardinals took an early lead on a goal by Sam Hanson just 1:02 into the game, St. Olaf tied it up at 1-1 at the 7:55 mark on a goal by sophomore Tyler Bump, with sophomore Dana Engram earning his first-career assist on the goal. Senior Steve MacIver gave the Oles the lead 3:05 later off another assist from Engram.

With St. Olaf ahead 2-1, the two teams combined to score three goals in a 44-second span. Rimbach's first goal of the night at 13:09 started the flurry but Seth Kamrass answered 26 seconds later for Saint Mary's to bring the hosts back within a goal. Just 18 seconds later, however, the Oles reclaimed their two-goal lead on a goal by sophomore Mitch Dolter to cap the six-goal opening period.

The two teams combined for six penalties in the second period but Tommy Stang's power-play goal at 12:05 was the only scoring of the period, as Saint Mary's trimmed the St. Olaf lead to 4-3 after two.

The third period also included six penalties but only one goal, with Rimbach's empty-netter at the 18:58 mark giving St. Olaf breathing room in the final minute.

Saint Mary's outshot St. Olaf by a 41-14 margin on the night but senior Noah Parker made 38 saves, including at least 12 in each period, to help the Oles to the win.

St. Olaf hosts Concordia-Moorhead for the final weekend of the regular season next weekend. Game times are at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 for Senior Day.