NORTHFIELD, Minn. – In its fourth consecutive one-goal game to start the season, the St. Olaf College women's hockey team dropped its series finale to UW-Eau Claire, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Seniors Emma Heath and Emma Aune both scored in the loss for St. Olaf (1-3-0), which trailed 2-0 late in the second period before Heath's goal. UW-Eau Claire (3-1-0), which received votes in the USCHO Division III Women's Ice Hockey Poll this week, held the Oles off late after the teams exchanged goals in the final 1:07 of the third.

UW-Eau Claire built a 2-0 lead on an early goal by Madisyn Krumholz at the 5:42 mark of the opening period and another from Jana Lesch midway through the second period. The Oles trimmed their deficit in half when Heath netted her first goal of the season off assists from sophomores Jocelyn Orr and Gianna Kowalkoski at 18:10 of the middle period.

The Blugolds killed off over one minute of 5-on-3 power play time for the Oles midway through the third period before getting an insurance goal from Lesch, her second of the day, on an empty-netter with 1:07 remaining. St. Olaf did not go quietly, however, as Aune struck with 15.3 seconds to go, putting in a rebound off a shot by sophomore Julia Larson that got to Aune via the stick of first year Mackinley Ronan.

Senior Hannah Fritz made 29 saves in her season debut for St. Olaf, while Kambelle Freije had 24 saves for the visitors. The Oles were 0-for-4 on the power play but killed off the only penalty they took.

St. Olaf will match up with nationally-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College to open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play next weekend, starting with a 6 p.m. home game on Friday, Nov. 14.