SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University men's hockey team hosted Saint Mary's (Minn.) at TRIA Rink in the back-end of a home-and-home series on Saturday. The Pipers picked up their first MIAC victory of the season with a 2-1 decision over the Cardinals.

Hamline improves to 3-9-1, 1-5 MIAC, while Saint Mary's falls to 6-10-1, 4-4 MIAC.

Hamline 2, Saint Mary's 1

Both teams were scoreless after the opening frame before a penalty-laden second period gave Hamline an opportunity they eventually took advantage of.

At 9:05 of the second period, Saint Mary's Gabe Potyk was called for a five-minute major contact to the head penalty, while Isaac Baron simultaneously was called for a minor roughing to make things four-on-four for three minutes. That's where Brendan Sheehan netted a goal at 9:20 of the second period to give Hamline a 1-0 lead. Jackson Bond converted a power-play tally from Sheehan with :01 left in Potyk's five-minute penalty at 14:04 of the second period to widen the score to 2-0.

The Cardinals' Brady Lindauer registered an extra-attacker goal at 18:43 of the third period to narrow their deficit to 2-1, where things stayed final.

Fourteen penalties were called in the contest. The Pipers outshot the Cardinals 34-22.

Pipers goalie Kevin Lake made 21 saves in net for Hamline, while Connor Close stopped 32 shots for the Cardinals.

Hamline will host Saint John's at TRIA Rink on Wednesday, January 26 at 3 p.m.