NORTHFIELD, Minn. – A late power-play goal by Nina Langley was the difference, as Saint Mary's took the series opener from the St. Olaf College women's hockey team by a 2-1 margin on Friday at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

The teams were knotted at 2-2 after trading second-period goals before Langley fired a shot that found its way through traffic for the game-winning goal with 3:57 remaining for Saint Mary's (5-3-0, 4-1-0 MIAC). Junior Maddie Anderson had tied the game for St. Olaf (5-5-0, 1-4-0 MIAC) late in the second period with her second goal of the season.

After a scoreless first period that included only 11 combined shots on goal, the two teams exchanged goals in the second period. Kas Kingston gave the Cardinals the lead with an unassisted goal at 3:36, throwing the puck in front from behind the goal near the left corner and benefitting from a ricochet in front of the net.

Saint Mary's held the 1-0 lead for over 15 minutes before Anderson tied the game at 1-1 at the 15:39 mark of the middle period. Sophomore Mia Jutz started the play by firing the puck up ice to first year Mandy Moran, as the Oles caught the Cardinals on a line change. Moran took a sharp-angle shot from the right side that led to a rebound in front for Anderson to put home for the tying goal.

At the same time as the goal, Saint Mary's was whistled for having too many skaters on the ice penalty, but St. Olaf could only generate one shot on goal on the power play. That set the stage for Langley's winner, which came at 16:03 of the third period after St. Olaf was called for a tripping penalty.

With 1:36 remaining in regulation, the Oles got their second power-play opportunity of the game on a body-checking call and pulled senior Grace Boswell-Healey to create a 6-on-4 advantage. The move nearly paid off, as first year Lauren Spear hit the post on a wrap-around shot, but the Cardinals hung on for the one-goal win.

Ary Ziakas made 13 saves in the win for Saint Mary's, while Boswell-Healey had 17 stops for St. Olaf. The two teams wrap up their series on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. in Winona.