One year after seeing his season end with an ACL injury, Mitch Hall showed he still has the right stuff. The defenseman scored the first goal of the game for the Piper men's hockey team in a 3-2 loss to St. Olaf in the MIAC Hockey Showcase in Blaine Sunday. 

Bailey Martin had the other goal for the Pipers, who finished their first weekend of play with an 0-2 mark. 

As was the case Saturday night (a 5-3 loss to Augsburg), the game doesn't count in the league standings. 

Hall, who was an All-American two years ago, whistled a shot through traffic 5:46 into the game to give HU a 1-0 lead. The Oles tied the game in the waning seconds of the opening frame and then bunched two tallies in a span of 53 seconds early in the second for a 3-1 edge. 

Martin, a freshman, chopped the lead to 3-2 when he batted a loose puck into the net in a wild scramble at 12:09. HU pressed the issue, particularly in the later stages of the game, but could not get the equalizer. 

Sam Nelson, making his first start as a Piper, recorded 28 saves in goal. 

Hamline heads to their home base, TRIA Rink, next weekend for a pair of games against Badger state foes. Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1-0-1) visits on Friday, November 2. Wisconsin-Eau Claire (2-0 with a game Tuesday at Northland) is the opponent on Saturday, November 3. Both games start at 7:00 p.m.