January 26

Pipers atop MIAC standings with win over Oles

After tonight's 4-1 victory over St. Olaf, and earning three out of four possible points available in this weekend's series, the Hamline University men's hockey team is in a tie with Bethel for first place in the MIAC standings.

The Pipers took the 1-0 lead late in the first period tonight in Northfield, when Andrew Birkholz (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) scored on an assist from Dustin Fulton (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.). The goal was Birkholz' second of the year, and the assist was Fulton's 17th of the season.

Hamline put the game out of reach in the second period, scoring at 4:02 when Kyle Kurr (So., Elk River, Minn.) took the puck from Chris Berenguer (Fy., Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Nick Zilka (Fy., Mound, Minn.). They gained the 3-0 advantage when Austin Tavis (Fy., Grand Rapids, Minn.) scored an unassisted goal at 14:38 in the second.

St. Olaf scored their lone goal at at 16:01 in the second.

The three-goal margin of victory was created at 12:54 in the third when defenseman Joe Long (Jr., Dayton, Minn.) tallied his 12th goal of the season. Assists were credited to Cole Scatterelli (So., Elk River, Minn.) and Matt Zilles (Jr., Lakeland, Minn.).

The Pipers improve to 10-4-3, 6-1-1 MIAC. The 10 wins is the most the Pipers have had in a season since the 2000-2001 campaign in which the team went 11-14-0. The Oles dropped to 6-9-4, 3-4-3 MIAC

Hamline returns to the ice next Friday, February 1, to host Bethel in a battle of the two teams tied for first in the MIAC standings at 7:15 p.m.

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