Box Score The Hamline lacrosse team fell into a hole late in the first half and couldn't dig its way out, losing the 2017 regular season finale, a 18-8 non-conference decision at Augustana (Ill.) Sunday. Lexus Tatge (1) scored three goals and Dana Almquist added two for HU, which finished the regular season with a 13-4 overall record. That's a three-win improvement over its initial season  as a varsity unit last year under the lead of head coach Karen Heggernes. 

The Pipers' 9-2 MWLC record earned the second seed in the league playoff. Hamline will face Aurora (9-8, 8-3 MWLC)  on May 5 at 4:00 p.m. in Mequon, Wis. Concordia (11-6, 10-1), the regular season co-champion and host for the tournament, takes on Augsburg (12-8, 8-3) in the other semifinal. The winners meet the next day for the automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament. Illinois Tech, which tied Concordia for first place at 10-1, is not eligible for this year's playoffs. Hamline defeated Aurora, 10-7, on March 26 at Klas Field.

The game started well Sunday. Almquist scored twice and Radian Lenz once to give HU a 3-1 lead after 4 1/2 minutes of play. The Vikings (10-6) responded by scoring the next five for a 6-3 lead. Tatge stemmed the tide slightly but Augustana came back with seven more tallies before halftime for a 13-4 edge. 

Molly Dionne had seven saves in goal for Hamline. Tathe scored twice with Lindsey Jackman and Brayden Maass adding solos in the second half for Hamline.