WINONA, Minn. – The regionally-ranked St. Olaf College women's soccer team was held in check by Saint Mary's University in a 2-0 loss on Wednesday afternoon at Ochrymowycz Field.

St. Olaf (9-2-2, 4-2-1 MIAC), which was off to its best-ever start to a season entering the game, was held to three shots and one shot on goal by Saint Mary's (8-2-3, 4-1-1 MIAC) while suffering just its second loss of the season. The Cardinals scored both of their goals on set pieces, one following a free kick and one on a corner kick.

The Oles and Cardinals entered the day tied for third in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) standings with identical 4-1-1 records, but the win pushed Saint Mary's up to second and sent St. Olaf down to fourth. The Oles were ranked No. 7 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Region IX poll.

Both teams had just one shot in the opening half, but Saint Mary's capitalized on the lone shot on goal of the half in the 35th minute to go ahead 1-0. After the Cardinals were awarded a free kick near midfield, the Oles could not clear the ball at the top of the box. Saint Mary's hooked the second ball in the air into the middle of the box, where Kaylen Pray brought it down and slotted it home for the opening goal.

First year Ava Williams made a leaping save to tip a header by Dakota Leonard off a corner out for another corner kick in the 66th minute. Just over four minutes later, however, Leonard again rose the highest to head in another corner kick to double the Cardinals' lead.

Williams made three saves in suffering her first loss in three collegiate starts, while Anna Peckosh had just one save to make in earning the shutout for Saint Mary's.

The Oles will play four of their final five regular-season games at Rolf Mellby Field, beginning with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Augsburg University on Saturday, Oct. 19.