Box Score In the short time that Natalie Darwitz has been the head women's hockey coach at Hamline, there have been several firsts. 

Now we can add two more to that list -- and these might be the most impressive feats of them all. 

Hamline's 3-2 win over Bethel in Blaine Saturday afternoon added two new standards to the growing list of achievements this year.

• It was the Pipers' fifth straight MIAC win, setting a school record.
• The win elevated HU to 9-3 in conference play. That's good for 18 points and lifted them into a tie for first place with Augsburg, who lost 2-1 at home to St. Mary's Saturday. Concordia and Gustavus Adolphus, who played to a 2-2 OT tie, are close behind with 17 points and St. Thomas is next with 13.

Unlike Friday night, when Hamline grabbed a 3-0 first period lead and never looked back in a 4-1 win, this one was a battle from the start. The Royals had a lot of juice and fired the first six shots on goal. They finished the period with a 9-5 edge in shots but it was the Pipers who came up the marker in the final minute of the period when Brede Postier finished off a three way play with Emily Gunderson and Britni DelCastillo. 

Darby Dodds broke in for a solo goal early in the second period for a 2-0 lead. The Royals, who are chasing St. Thomas for that fifth -- and final -- MIAC playoff spot -- retaliated four minutes later. 

It stayed at 2-1 into the third period when Bre Simon broke loose for a shorthanded unassisted goal that gave HU a big two goal lead. Simon leads the league in points with 24 and is tied with Dodds in goals scored with 14. 

Jaime Hathaway did her part with 21 saves in goal as HU improved to 11-7-1 overall. The 11 overall is the most in nine years here and the nine conference triumphs is the second best regular season effort for HU. In 2006-07, HU set the school record with a 10-6-2 MIAC mark and a 15-9-3 overall standard. 

All of this sets up an interesting showdown next weekend. Hamline plays at Augsburg on Friday, February 3 (7 p.m.) with a rematch on Saturday, February 4 at Oscar Johnson (2 p.m.).