WINONA, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's hockey team dropped the opener of its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) series to Saint Mary's University by a 3-1 score on Friday evening at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Saint Mary's (15-7-0, 10-5-0 MIAC) scored early in each of the first two periods to open up a 2-0 lead before first year Gianna Kowalkoski netted the lone goal of the night for St. Olaf (10-11-1, 7-7-1 MIAC) in the final minute of the second period to make it a one-goal game. The Cardinals added an empty-net goal with 2:03 remaining in the third to seal the victory.

With the loss and the College of Saint Benedict's 4-3 overtime win over fourth-ranked Augsburg University, the Bennies leapfrogged the Oles by one point to move into the fifth and final playoff spot. Saint Ben's has just two games remaining, while St. Olaf has three to go.

Sophia Paduano scored the first of her two goals on the night on a breakaway at 6:38 of the opening period to give the hosts a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Sidney Polzin doubled the Cardinals' lead at 1:58 of the second by putting in a rebound after junior Hannah Fritz saved her initial shot.

Kowalkoski got the Oles within a goal at the second intermission by tipping in a shot by senior Hannah Metric from the slot with 33 seconds to go in the middle period. The goal was Kowalkoski's second of the season, with Metric and junior Emma Heath collecting assists on the goal.

After being held to five shots on goal in the first period, St. Olaf tallied 25 over the final two periods but was unable to find a game-tying goal. Paduano added an empty-netter with just over two minutes left to cap the scoring.

Fritz and Celeste Rimstad finished with 29 saves apiece in the game, which had no penalties called on either team.

St. Olaf and Saint Mary's will finish off their series on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. at St. Olaf Ice Arena.