Women's hockey advances to MIAC Semifinals with 4-2 win

Tied at 2-2 with under 5:00 minutes to play in the contest, Hamline (15-8-3) scored twice in a matter of 2:08 to win their first postseason contest. Junior defenseman Marie Gross gave the Pipers their first lead of the game at 15:37 of the period when she fired a wrister through traffic to beat Cardinal goaltender Nikki Jung.

At 17:45 of the period, first-year Amanda Finstad iced the game, going coast-to-coast for her fourth goal of the year.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, the Pipers knotted the score at 7:28 when sophomore Brianna Miller corraled a Mallory Steele rebound and hit the wide open goal. It was Miller's 14th goal of the season. Steele ended the game with two assists after finishing with one assist for the entire regular season.

St. Mary's (9-14-3), who earned their seventh straight postseason berth, led by a goal at each intermission. Senior Melissa Mondo gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead late in the first period. The Pipers showed some nerves in the team's first playoff game, being outshot 8-2 in the first period.

But the nerves quickly subsided in the second period, where Hamline held a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal. Junior Cortney Hansen tied the game at 1-1 with her second goal of the season at 2:50.

Mondo later broke a 1-1 tie with her second goal of the contest at 12:33 of the period. Both Mondo goals were assisted by Laura Mueller and Rachel Harrison.

Hamline finished the game with a 25-24 advantage in shots on goal in the contest. Hamline netminder Crystal Testolin stopped 22 shots for her 12th win of the season. Jung made 21 saves for the Cardinals.

Both teams struggled on the power play. Hamline was 0-for-9 with an extra skater while the Cardinals were 0-for-7.

The Pipers move on to the MIAC Semifinals, where they will play top-seeded Gustavus on Thursday. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.