A three goal first period proved too much to overcome for the Hamline men's hockey team Saturday night. Augsburg grabbed a 3-1 first period lead and extended it en route to defeating the Pipers, 7-2, at Augsburg Arena. 

After the Auggies' Jake Larson opened the scoring 4:24 into the game, Tommy Hall evened matters 17 seconds later. The Auggies, three-time defending MIAC postseason champs, replied with two goals five minutes apart for a 3-1 lead after one frame. The homestanders added two goals in the second frame before Weiland Parrish replied early in the third period with a team leading sixth goal for Hamline to make it 5-2.

Augsburg struck back with two goals 39 seconds apart and held off the Pipers from there. 

Evan Robert started in goal and gave way to Sam Nelson in the first period. The pair combined for 25 saves on the night.

Hamline, one of the youngest teams in D-III hockey, is 2-11-1 overall, 2-6-0 in MIAC play. The Pipers have a pair of non-conference games next weekend. They play at Wis-Stout on Friday, January 11 and trek to Wis-Superior the next night. Both games start at 7:00 p.m.