Abbai Habte has been on fire lately for the HU men's soccer team.
Curiously enough, so has the HU men's soccer team ben on fire.
The senior has scored three straight games -- all of which have been Hamline victories that has propelled the team to a 3-1- MIAC mark, good for a tie for fourth place. Hamline, which started the season 0-3-1, is now 5-5-2 overall -- the first time they have been .500 or better at this stage of a season since 2007.
Habte has seven goals on the year, which ranks second in the conference. He started his current streak with a penalty kick winner in the 2-1 triumph over St. Thomas on Oct. 3.
As it developed, he was just warming up. Abbai scored all three goals -- including another penalty kick marker -- in the Pipers' 3-0 win at Northwestern (MN) on Oct. 5. It was the first men's soccer hat trick in four years.
Last Saturday, Habte found the net again with the first HU goal of the night in a 2-1 win at St. Mary's. In aqddition to his seven goals on the year, Habte has three assists. That total of 17 points ranks third in the MIAC.
Habte and the Pipers have a pair of key games this week. HU hosts Carleton on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Paterson Field (4:00 p.m.) They play at Augsburg on Saturday, October 17 (7:00 p.m.).
