Box Score The Hamline men's soccer team staged a late rally but St. John's held them off for a 2-1 win in the MIAC opener for both teams at Paterson Field. 

Jake Niemann (12) scored the only HU goal on a penalty kick with 17:01 to play in the game. At the time, it halved a 2-0 SJU lead. More importantly, the Pipers kicked matter sinto a higher gear and attacked the Johnnies relentlessly the rest of the way. But they couldn't get the equalizer and fell to 3-3-1 on the season.

The game started out as a mirror of last year's scoreless draw in Collegeville. Joey Matesi had a pair of saves in the HU goal as did SJU tender Kevin Lebahn.

SJU broke through first with a pair of goals 18 minutes apart in the second half. Hamline picked up the pace with Niemann eventually drawing the penalty kick after being fouled. The sophomore drilled it into the right hand corner of the net for his third goal of the season. 

HU carried much of the play the rest of the way but Lebahn held firm. Matesi finished with six saves and Lebahn had four. 

The Pipers will look to even their MIAC slate Saturday when they host Macalester at Paterson Field. Game time is 1:00 p.m.