Box Score It was a finish worth of a prime time drama. The clock was ticking down on Bethel and Hamline's men's soccer teams, who were locked in a tense 0-0 tie Wednesday at Paterson Field. Then Abbai Habte, Hamline's leading scorer, suddenly broke free. He was fouled inside the box and awarded a penalty kick with just 66 seconds on the clock. 

Habte (pictured)  took a deep breath and then shot a rocket into an open right corner of the net to give the Pipers, who needed the win to guarantee themselves a spot in the MIAC playoffs for the first time since 2006, a 1-0 lead. It was his team leading ninth goal of the season. 

The St. Paul, Minn. native is second in the league in goals and points (21).

But there was more drama to come. The Royals started back quickly, attacking hard. With three seconds remaining in regulation time, the whistle blew and a yellow card foul was called on Hamline. The good news was the foul occurred just outside the penalty kick area. The bad news was the Royals would get a direct kick. However, the kick was blocked by a wall of red and grey shirts and HU had earned their first trip to the MIAC postseason since the current players were in grade school. 

Dean Isaacson recorded four saves in goal for his fourth shutout of the season. 

This will mark the third time HU had made the MIAC men's soccer postseason since the format was created in 2003. HU advanced in 2005 and 2006.

Hamline, picked for ninth in the coaches' pre-season poll, currently sits in fifth place in the conference with a 5-3-1 mark (7-7-2 overall). Their total of 16 points is one behind fourth place Carleton. 

Both teams have one MIAC game remaining. HU plays at Gustavus Adolphus Saturday while the Knights will host St. Mary's. HU comes back for a non-conference game on Monday, Nov. 2 against Finlandia at Paterson (3:30). They will open the playoffs the next day.