NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Junior Annika Patterson scored her second goal of the game 1:15 into overtime to give the St. Olaf College women's hockey team a 5-4 victory over visiting UW-Stevens Point the season opener for both teams on Friday evening at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

After junior Maddie Anderson's goal midway through the third period sent the game to overtime, Patterson won it early in the 3-on-3 overtime to give St. Olaf (1-0-0) its first win since Feb. 17, 2018 – a span of 51 games and 1,350 days. UW-Stevens Point (0-1-0) held leads of 1-0, 3-2, and 4-3 in the game.

Just over a minute into the extra session, the Pointers were called for a delayed penalty and the Oles pulled senior goaltender Grace Boswell-Healey to create a 4-on-3 advantage. Just seven seconds after the delayed penalty, first year Lauren Spear centered the puck to Patterson to turn it home in front of the net for the game-winning goal. The assist was Spear's second of the game in her first collegiate game.

UW-Stevens Point took an early 1-0 lead just 2:25 into the game on a goal by Maike Zipp. St. Olaf responded later in the period on a shorthanded goal by first year Iona Welsch, who forced a turnover in the Pointers' zone and skated in to tie the game at a goal apiece after 20 minutes.

The Oles took their first lead of the game at 5:25 of the second period when sophomore Zephryn Jager found first year Heather Sager driving to the net and Sager jammed the puck home from close range in her first collegiate game. The St. Olaf lead did not last long, however, as Haley Sellers scored less than four minutes later to tie the game and Annika Horman added another five minutes after Sellers' tally to give UW-Stevens Point a 3-2 lead.

With time winding down in a wild second period, Patterson tallied her first goal of the night, poking the puck home in front off assists from Spear and sophomore Mia Jutz. The Pointers responded almost immediately off the ensuing faceoff as Lauren Wincentsen scored with 2.1 seconds to go in the period to put the visitors up 4-3 after two periods.

Anderson netted the lone goal of the third period, scoring on a wrist shot after collecting a pass off the boards from sophomore Sierra Moore. First year Jessica Wernli had a chance to win it in the closing seconds of regulation, but Olivia Schultz denied her on a backhand to send the game to overtime where Patterson was the hero.

The win was St. Olaf's first in 1,350 days since a 7-3 home victory over Saint Mary's on Feb. 17, 2018. The Oles had been 0-45-5 over their past 50 games prior to Friday night's win.

Prior to the game, St. Olaf celebrated the program's seven seniors – Emma Boyer, Carolyn Carpenter, Jackie LaFaive, Grace Boswell-Healey, Ivy Shonka, and senior managers Ester Levit and Bonnie Paulson – and their families on the ice on Senior Night.

The same two teams complete their weekend series on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. at St. Olaf Ice Arena.