MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's hockey team cut a 3-0 deficit after one period to 3-2 after two, but Augsburg University scored three third-period goals to complete a 6-2 win in the series opener between the two teams on Friday evening at Ed Saugestad Rink.

After Augsburg (9-6-1, 5-3-1 MIAC) scored three times in the opening period, St. Olaf (7-11-0, 1-10-0 MIAC) got goals from first years Heather Sager and Iona Welsch in the span of three-plus minutes in the second period to make it a one-goal game after two. The Auggies, however, tacked on three third-period goals to end the Oles' comeback attempt.

Payton Allen opened the scoring for Augsburg at 5:21 of the opening period before goals from Kennedy Stein and Dorothy Kearney in the final nine minutes of the period pushed the hosts' lead to 3-0 after 20 minutes. The Auggies outshot the Oles by an 18-4 margin in the first period.

Midway through the second period, Sager got St. Olaf on the board with her third goal of the season off an assist from classmate Jessica Wernli at the 9:16 mark. Just 3:25 later, sophomore Mia Jutz set up Welsch for her fourth goal of the season at 12:41 to get the Oles within a goal.

Welsch's four goals are the second-highest total this season for St. Olaf, while Jutz picked up her fourth assist of the season, which is also second on the team.

Lilia Scheid gave Augsburg an insurance goal at 5:42 to start the Auggies' three-goal third period. Jenna Gerold added an unassisted tally at the 12:03 mark before Brooke Leone capped the scoring with 1:12 remaining in the game.

Senior Ivy Shonka made 32 saves over the first 52:03 of the game and suffered the loss for St. Olaf, while classmate Grace Boswell-Healey stopped 5-of-6 shots over the final 7:57. Chloe Stockinger picked up the win with a 13-save evening for Augsburg.

The two teams wrap up their series on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. at St. Olaf Ice Arena.