Box Score Gardea Simoke (pictured) recorded his second goal of the season and Dean Isaacson recorded 10 saves but St. John's maintained their first place standing in the MIAC with a 2-1 overtime victory over Hamline in Collegeville Saturday. The Pipers still control their won destiny as far as making the conference playoffs for ther first time in nine years. 

Hamline is tied with Carleton for fifth place with a 4-3-1 MIAC mark (6-7-2 overall). If they win one of their final two conference games (Tuesday against Bethel at Paterson Field and next Saturday at Gustavus Adolphus), they are assured of a postseason berth. The top six teams make the playoffs.

There are numerous other possibilities as well, including moving as high as third place. But that is for later considerations. 

SJU struck first, getting a goal from Paul Wageman 13:10 into the game. It took 54 minutes for Hamline to get the equalizer. Simoke did the honors, rifling a shot through the box at 69:13. it stayed that way until Hageman scored the winner with 17 seconds left in the first extra period. Isaacson, a freshman who has played all but 4:01 of the season in goal, stopped seven shots in the second half alone and another one in overtime before surrendering the winner. 

Thus it is that the Pipers return home now to face the Royals (6-8-2, 2-5-1 MIAC) in a key game Tuesday. Game time is 3:30 p.m. BU defeated Concordia, 2-1, Saturday.