ST. PETER, Minn. – A day after ending in a 2-2 tie, the #9 Hamline women's hockey team (14-3-2, 9-1-1 MIAC) took down #5 Gustavus Adolphus (13-3-2, 9-1-2 MIAC) 5-3 on the road to take over possession of first place in the MIAC standings with three weekends left in the regular season.
 
It remains an incredibly tight race among the top four in the conference, as the Pipers are in first with 21 points, Gustavus and St. Thomas are tied in second with 20 points, and Augsburg is in fourth with 18 points. The top five teams all make the playoff tournament that begins on February 27 with the top-two seeds getting to host a second-round game.
 
Hamline was led offensively by junior Taylor Curtis who tallied her first career hat trick in the game, which included scoring the game-winner at 14:16 in the second period.
 
The Pipers came out aggressive right out of the gate, scoring a pair of goals within the first two minutes. It was first year Madison Davis who scored first, finishing a pass from senior Rae Robert to give HU the 1-0 lead after 1:22 of play.
 
Curtis added to that lead 26 seconds later, scoring her first of the game, being assisted by first year Elizabeth Valley.
 
The Gusties were the next to score, getting a goal nine minutes in, but the Pipers answered with a goal a minute later to keep their two-goal lead. This time it was first year Sophie Rausch who found the back of the net, being set up by Davis.
 
Gustavus scored on a power play before the first period was over to end a five-goal first frame, with the Pipers holding a 3-2 edge at the first break.
 
In the second period, the Gusties tied it up at three apiece, scoring at 4:16. Curtis helped HU reclaim the lead with her second goal of the game, using a pass from first year Hannah Dorsey. Neither team was able to score again, allowing the Pipers to keep their one-goal lead heading into the third.
 
Curtis got her final goal 12 minutes into the third period, giving Hamline a 5-3 lead, which they would hold onto for the rest of the game. Senior Dani Wright and junior Olivia Arkell picked up assists on the play.
 
Sophomore Jaela O'Brien started in net for the Pipers, making eight saves in the first period. Junior McKenna Hulslander closed out the last two periods, earning the win while making 25 saves for HU, allowing just one goal. She is now 6-1 on the season.
 
The Pipers will take on Saint Mary's next weekend, starting the series on the road with a game in Winona on February 7 at 7:00 p.m. They will then return to TRIA Rink for a 2:00 p.m. game on February 8.