Box Score It is a position that few thought Hamline's men's hockey team would be in at this stage of the season. After all, the coaches' preseason poll had pegged Hamline for eighth place. But there it is -- with just three games remaining, the Pipers stand in fourth place and are just three away from second place.

Hamline upped their MIAC point total to 22 with a stirring come-from-behind 3-2 win over Augsburg Friday night at Oscar Johnson Arena. Josh Gaughan (pictured), Brandon Zurn and Jaycob McCombs had the goals as HU shook off a 2-0 deficit for the win. The Pipers are 10-8-4 overall, 6-4-3 in the MIAC.

The Auggies' Corbin Chapman scored late in the first period and added another 1:18 into the second. At this point, the Pipers stiffened considerably and held the Auggies to just one more shot on goal the rest of the period. Gaughan started the comeback when he plucked the puck out of corner and jamed one in a short side at 8:58. In the period's final minute, Zurn picked up a Jonny Gehrt shot that went wide and jammed it in the net for a power play to ser the stage for the titantic third period.

McCombs gave HU the lead at 1:18 with a snap shot from the slot. The Pipers kept the Auggies at bay the rest of the way. But there were some harrowing moments when the Auggies went on a power play with 4:46 to play. They pulled goalie Frederik Melander with 1:18 left but that was slightly negated when Augsburg was hit with a too many men on the ice penalty. Melander was yanked again but HU kept the Auggies away from goalie John Sellie-Hanson to seal the deal. 

Concordia and St. Mary's -- who are playing each other this weekend -- are tied for second with 25 points. Hamline sits alone in fourth. Augsburg and St. John's (who lost 2-0 at Bethel) are just one point behind with 21 points. Gustavus Adolphus, which defeated St. Thomas in a shootout, is still in the hunt as well with 18 points. The top five MIAC teams make the playoffs. 

HU travels to Minneapolis Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. rematch with the Auggies. Hamline finishes the regular season next weekend with a home and home series against St. Mary's.