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To get to the Semi Finals, the Pipers overcame St. Mary’s last Tuesday for the school’s first ever playoff win. In the game against St. Mary’s, Hamline played competively from start to finish. “They were a really tough team to play against,” said first-year Andria Pinkerton.The Pipers entered the final period of regulation trailing 2-1 but tied it up with five minutes to go. The Pipers caught fire though and St. Mary’s could not keep up as Hamline scored three times in the third period.

Sophomore Brianna Miller got things started by scoring first off a wide open net to tie the game 2-2. Barely two minutes later, junior Marie Gross scored off a wrist shot to give the advantage to the Red and Grays. First-year Amanda Finstad sealed the playoff victory with her fourth goal of the season. Sophomore goaltender Crystal Testolin had 22 saves on the night for her 12th win of the year. The Pipers defeated St. Mary’s 4-2.

Going into the game at St. Peter, the Pipers were well aware that they had never defeated the Gusties in any of their prior 14 meetings.

Testolin was a wall in the game. She had 46 saves on what turned out to be a busy night. Despite this solid performance from the goaltender, the Pipers were down 2-0 midway through the second period. That was until junior Emily Dusold scored a power-play goal. Dusold had Hamline’s only goal of the contest. Gustavus went on to score a power-play goal and an open netter to add to their total. With the Piper goal in the second, Dusold added to her points total for her career. Dusold is tied for the school record in career points (45).

As a team, the 2007 Pipers set a new standard of success. As individuals, the Pipers set new records in many categories as well. This year’s team outscored any in previous seasons by 46 goals (102). Junior Sara Mickelson set the school record for goals in a season with 20 and points with 31. First-year Sophie Davidson also set the school record for assists in a season, with 17. The team also had more assists (141) and points (243) than in any other season. Along with their outstanding play this season, the Pipers success can also be attributed to good coaching and team chemistry.

Pinkerton has had quite a year with the Piper hockey program. The women’s hockey player has been part of an unprecedented record-breaking season in Hamline’s history. Pinkerton said that the team has a great camaraderie that pushes everybody to do their best and go for the win.
Garnet Asmundson is in his fourth season as head of the women’s hockey program. Asmundson’s record stands at 25-65-9 since coming to Hamline. Since Asmundson came to Hamline, the Pipers have improved every single season. This great ability of leadership illustrates that while battles against schools like Gustavus are still an uphill affair, the Pipers are readying themselves to meet other schools on their terms, as shown by the last time the Pipers and the Gusties squared off. To bring a team like Gustavus, which has one of the most impressive records in the MIAC hockey arena to overtime puts the Gusties on notice: Hamline is here, and willing to do battle.

It may be disappointing to see this team end its streak of success and hang up their skates for the season, but everyone should take comfort in the team’s prospects for building on this newfound success. The Pipers are a very young team and should return most of their players next year. First-years like Davidson should only get better with age and veteran players like Dusold and Mickelson will continue to shatter existing school records and add to their career totals. Next year’s team will undoubtedly be met with higher expectations-as well they should be as they continue to improve. The mix of young players, fresh from the competitive high school leagues of the Midwest, and the experienced and MIAC-hardened upperclassman puts together a dangerous combination that makes the Pipers women’s hockey a force to be reckoned with throughout the MIAC.