The Piper men's soccer teams had two of the niftiest plays of the afternoon but St. Thomas' Nick Rapisarda (three goals, one assist) was too much to handle. As a result, Hamline lost a freewheeling 4-2 game on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Paterson Field.
Tyler Tallaksen and Greg Northrop had the tallies for the Pipers, who fell to 2-8-1 overall, 0-5 in the MIAC.
For 85 minutes, though, HU scared the bejeebers out of the league's lone undefeated team. Rapisarda scored six minutes into the game to give the visitors a lead that stood until 26:28 when Tallaksen, stationed at the right of the goal, alertly re-directed a Sam Slagle (pictured at right) corner for his second goal of the season.
The Tommies regained the lead early in the second half but the Pipers kept the score at 2-1 until a wild segment that three goals scored in a span of less two minutes.
Rapisarda set up teammate Ryan Bernhardt to make it 3-1. 39 seconds later, Northrop took Abbai Habte's pass and drilled it home to make it a one-goal game again at 3-2. However, Rapisarda potted a third goal to end the scoring.
Eric Feil had five saves in goal for Hamline.
Hamline now has a week off. Their next game is October 6 at St. Mary's.
St. Thomas boxscore