Box Score Hamline's men's hockey team rallied well from a rocky start but came up a goal short in a 5-4 loss to St. Mary's Saturday night at Oscar Johnson Arena. The Pipers finished the season 11-10-4 overall and 7-6-3 in the MIAC. The latter number lands them in fifth place. They will make their first playoff appearance in three seasons when they play at Augsburg (12-13) on Thursday, February 26.

Charlie Adams scored twice and Austin Cihak and Mitch Hall added single tallies as part of a 53-shot onslaught on SMU goalie Phil Heinle. 

Cihak actually got the Pipers a lead 11:32 into the game with his first goal of the season. The Cardinals, who will be the second seed in the playoffs, responded with two first period goals and two more 3:10 into the second period. Adams responded with a shorthanded goal to make it 4-2 but the Cardinals struck midway in the period for what turned out to be the difference in the game. 

That's because Hall slipped a shot through a screen 49 seconds into the third period and Adams (9) knocked his second of the game (and a team leading 16th of the season) home at 9:06. HU continued to pressure Heinle the rest of the way but could not get the equalizer.

The Pipers struggled with penalties all night, taking a season high nine for 18 minutes. John Sellie-Hanson started in goal but gave way to Erick Majerle  81 seconds into the second period.

Hamline defeated Augsburg, 3-2 and 6-5, in overtime last weekend.