Box Score It's not the way the Pipers preferred to do it. But the men's hockey team know their season will be extended past Saturday's season finale against St. Mary's at Oscar Johnson Arena. 

Hamline lost a tough 4-3 OT decision to the Cardinals in Winona Friday. However, losses by Gustavus Adolphus and St. John's eliminated both teams from playoff contention. HU, with 25 points, currently sits fourth in the MIAC with a 7-5-3 mark. They will need a win Saturday to tie St. Mary's and Concordia, who have 28 points each, for second place. Augsburg, which won in overtime at St. Olaf, has 24 points and is in fifth place -- the final playoff position. 

On the ice Friday, Hamline led twice and then rallied from behind before losing in the extra session. 

Garrett Schmitz picked an excellent time for his first goal of the season to give HU a first period lead. SMU tied it before the end of the period. Charlie Adams' team high 14th goal of the year 4:17 into the second pushed the Pipers back ahead.  But the Cardinals tied it late in the second peiod and took their first lead of the night with 4:24 left in the game. Joe Rubbelke (7) responded for Hamline, though, with a nifty rink length dash that tied the game at 18:12. 

Alas, SMU found the net in overtime to gain the win. 

A half hour later, however, the Pipers got the news that SJU and GAC had both lost. So, after winning just three games the past two seasons, Hamline, now 11-9-4 overall, is headed to the postseason. 

They will try to improve their playoff position when they host the Cardinals Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  A win in regulation or OT would push the Pipers into a three-way tie for second place. Under the tiebreaker system, they would be the third seed and, in all likelihood, head to Concordia in this scenario for a game on Saturday, Feb. 28. A loss and, depending on what Augsburg does, they will be 4th or 5th and play February 26.