NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Junior Rachel Wieland scored the lone goal of the game in her debut to give the St. Olaf College women's hockey team a 1-0 season-opening victory over UW-Stevens Point on Friday night at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Wieland scored on a deflected shot at 12:17 of the third period for St. Olaf (1-0-0), which defeated UW-Stevens Point (0-1-0) in its season opener for the third season in a row. The Pointers held a 31-20 advantage in shots on goal in the game but could not find a way past sophomore Hannah Fritz, who picked up the sixth shutout of her career.

With the game still scoreless past the midway point of the third period, Wieland collected a loose puck in the left circle after senior Mia Jutz's shot was blocked, cut towards the middle of the ice, and unleashed a shot that wrong-footed goaltender Emily Griege after deflecting in off a UW-Stevens Point skater. The goal was the fifth of Wieland's career after she scored twice in each of her two seasons at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Jutz and junior Iona Welsch both picked up the seventh assists of their respective careers on the play after Welsch got the puck to Jutz for the initial shot.

Fritz made 12 saves in the first period, nine in the second, and 10 more in the third period in the shutout victory. After the Pointers pulled their goaltender with 2:17 to go, the visitors generated six shots, but the Oles blocked four of the six and Fritz stopped the other two to preserve the shutout.

St. Olaf killed off the lone UW-Stevens Point power play of the evening in the first period but was 0-for-2 on its chances with the extra skater. The Oles had an early power play just 1:04 into the game and one more midway through the third period just before Wieland's goal.

The two teams complete their season-opening series on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. at St. Olaf Ice Arena. The Oles will honor their five-member senior class prior to the game.