Box Score In 68 previous games as a women's college hockey player, HU junior forward Melanie Bartenstein had scored three goals. She picked a fine time to dramatically improve that total. The Anchorage, Alaska native scored twice Friday -- including the game winner in the third period -- to lift the Pipers past St. Catherine, 3-2, at Drake Arena. The win upped the Pipers' MIAC record to 10-5-0 and sent them to their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade. 

Hamline, which currently holds down fourth place in the conference, will play for the first time in the league's postseason since the 2007-08 season. The Pipers' total of 20 points is just one behind third place Concordia, a 5-2 winner at St. Olaf.   Fifth place St. Thomas has 17 points. 

Despite a 39-23 edge in shots on goal, this  one was difficult from the start. The Wildcats opened the scoring just 82 seconds into the game. SCU goalie Kristen Pechacek was sharp from the start, knocking away all 18 shots sent her way in the first session. Bartenstein broke the ice on a feed from Emily Gunderson 6:47 into the second period. Late in the same frame, Jena Kosley got loose for an unassisted goal on a wraparound and HU had a 2-1 lead entering the final 20 minutes.

The Wildcats weren't done. A power play goal 80 seconds into the third period tied the game. Bartenstein answered that with an unassisted tally of her own at 3:02 for what proved to be the final goal of the night. 

It was not, however, the final action. SCU outshot Hamline, 15-9, in the final frame with freshman goalie Annie Juergens keeping the slim lead alive. She was particularly tested when Pechacek was pulled for a sixth attacked with 1:03 remaining. The Wildcats unleashed four shots Juergens' way in a span of 23 seconds. She stopped them all and made one more save to preserve the win.

Hamline, now 12-9-1 overall, will take on St. Catherine again on Saturday, February 11 at Oscar Johnson Arena. Game time is 2:00 p.m.