ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Hamline University women's hockey team (4-0, 1-0 MIAC) improved their 2021 season record to 4-0 on Wednesday night with a 4-3 win over St. Thomas (1-1, 1-0 MIAC) at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.
 
This was HU's fourth win over the Tommies in the past three seasons. The two teams are set to face off again later this season in the final conference game of the year on March 13^th at TRIA Rink.
 
Sophomore Ava Bailey recorded a season-high 36 saves in the win, earning her fourth-straight victory. The Hudson, Wisconsin native now has 83 saves on the year so far.
 
Sophomore Madison Davis continued her recent scoring tear, getting the Pipers on the board first less than three minutes into the game. She was assisted by sophomore Molly Garin on the play. First year Emme Nelson added to the lead about 10 minutes later with an unassisted goal of her own, at 12:12. This was Nelson's fourth goal of the season, as she has scored in three of the team's first four games.
 
The majority of the second period was scoreless, until the final two minutes when each team would add a tally. St. Thomas struck first in the frame, cutting the Hamline lead to one, 18:47 into the period. But, senior defender Olivia Arkell would answer less than 30 seconds later to return the momentum to the Pipers before the period was over, as HU took a 3-1 lead into the second break. Bailey made a game-high 18 saves in this period for Hamline.
 
Garin gave the Pipers some extra cushion in the third, scoring a little over three minutes in to stretch the lead to 4-1. She was assisted by first year Sydney Lemke. This goal would prove to be the game-winner, as St. Thomas would score twice in the period. The Tommies added their first goal of the period at 9:29 and then took advantage of a power play opportunity to get the game within one with seven minutes still to play.
 
The Piper defense did not give way, however, holding the Tommies for the rest of the game, including when St. Thomas pulled their goalie in the final minute, to earn the win.
 
As a team, the Tommies held a 39-16 edge in shots on net, but Hamline's offense really capitalized on their chances and Bailey took care of the rest, knocking away enough of UST's attempts to help the Pipers stay undefeated.
 
Hamline will return to TRIA Rink this weekend when they host Concordia in their second conference game of the season. The Cobbers are 0-0-1 on the year, after tying with Saint Mary's 0-0 in their season-opener. Puck drop is set for 2:00 p.m. with live video and stat links available on the schedule page.