Box Score A season ago, Hamline's men's hockey team played 10 overtime games -- the most of any D-III team in the country.

The Pipers started 2017-18 on an extra note Friday -- with a happy ending. Garrett Schmitz tucked a shot under the crossbar at 1:43 of overtime to lift HU past St. Olaf, 4-3, in the MIAC Hockey Showcase in Blaine, Minn. Mitch McPherson scored twice and Russ Jordan once -- all on power plays for HU, which led 3-1 into the third period. 

Indeed, the Piper power play looked in midseason form as it clicked on three of its first four opportunities. 

The Oles opened the scoring on a power play but Jordan, who led the MIAC in  goals last year, tied matters on a feed from newcomer Taylor Trapp. McPherson picked up the pace in the second period with a pair of extra man markers eight  minutes apart. Trapp had a hand here as well. The third goal came when McPherson deflected Trapp's point shot in the net. At the end of the period, though, McPherson was assessed a major for checking from behind, giving STO a five-minute power play to start the final frame.

The Oles scored once on this advantage and tied the game with 4:04 remaining. 

HU was on a power play to start the overtime but failed to connect. Schmitz, a senior, put a sudden end to the game when he walked in from the right point and blistered a shot home. HU held a 38-26 edge in shots on goal with Justin Quale recording 23 saves in the Piper net.

Hamline returns to Blaine on Sunday, October 29 to face St. Thomas. Game time is 3:30 p.m.