NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's hockey team cut a two-goal deficit to one early in the third period, but Saint Mary's University (Minn.) got an empty-netter in the finals seconds to defeat the Oles, 3-1, on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Saint Mary's (8-12-3, 5-9-2 MIAC) broke open a scoreless game with two goals 31 seconds apart in the first nine minutes of the second period before Carolyn Carpenter got St. Olaf (0-21-2, 0-16-0 MIAC) on the board 3:41 into the third to make it a one-goal game. The Cardinals held off the Oles the rest of the way and added an empty-net goal with 16 seconds to go to seal the win.

Prior to the game, St. Olaf celebrated its four seniors and their families on the ice on Senior Day for their efforts over the past four seasons.

After a scoreless opening 27 minutes, the Cardinals opened the scoring at 7:42 of the second period when Carolyn Chrastka's shot hit off the pipe and went in off the back of St. Olaf's goaltender. Just 31 seconds later, Sophia Zebro doubled Saint Mary's lead with an unassisted tally.

The Oles totaled 24 shots on goal over the final two periods and were rewarded for their pressure on Carpenter's fourth goal of the season inside the first four minutes of the third. First year Chloe LaFond got the puck deep in her own zone and cleared it up the wall to Carpenter, who took care of the rest, weaving through the defense before scoring from between the circles with her team changing behind her.

St. Olaf had several chances to tie the game at 2-2 later in the third period, including having a rebound off a Carpenter shot squirt inches from the goal line with seven minutes remaining. Saint Mary's got an insurance goal from Courtney Moser with 16 seconds remaining after the Oles pulled their goaltender with 1:28 left in search of a tying goal.

Jordan Keeley picked up the win for the Cardinals with 28 saves, including 23 over the final two periods. Klemann recorded 14 saves on her Senior Day for the Oles, while first year Taylor Smith had 11 and sophomore Grace Boswell-Healey had six.

St. Olaf did not commit a penalty in the game but was unable to capitalize on four attempts on the power play.

St. Olaf closes out its season with a series at Concordia-Moorhead next weekend, starting with a 7 p.m. contest at Moorhead Sports Center on Friday, Feb. 21.