EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Sophomore Nora McConnell scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the first minute of the third period to give the St. Olaf College women's hockey team a 2-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire on Friday night at Hobbs Ice Arena.

McConnell struck on a 5-on-3 power play at 32 seconds of the final period and St. Olaf (1-2-0) held off UW-Eau Claire (2-1-0) the rest of the way to snap the Blugolds' 10-game winning streak in the series. The win was the first for the Oles against UW-Eau Claire since a 2-1 victory on Jan. 9, 2015. The Blugolds received votes in this week's USCHO Division III Women's Poll.

After a scoreless first period, the Blugolds got on the board first on a goal by Harper Poehling at 3:54 of the second period. Past the midway point of the period, St. Olaf tied the game at 1-1 when senior Solvei Berg-Messerole scored off assists from senior Emma Aune and first year Kellsey Kludt at the 11:29 mark, as the teams went into the second intermission even at a goal apiece.

UW-Eau Claire took a hooking penalty in the final 35 seconds of the second period and another one just 17 seconds into the third to set the Oles up with an extended 5-on-3 power play. McConnell cashed in on the two-player advantage with her fourth collegiate goal at the 32-second mark, with Berg-Messerole and first year Mackinley Ronan picking up the assists.

St. Olaf killed off a minor penalty near the midpoint of the third period and got 10 third-period saves from sophomore Baylyn Shankman to hold on for the win. Shankman finished the night with 29 saves to pick up her first win of the season. Tegan Swanson made 12 stops in the loss for UW-Eau Claire, which held a 30-14 advantage in shots on goal.

The two teams will drop the puck at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the series finale at St. Olaf Ice Arena.