SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University women's hockey team's 2023-24 MIAC opener pitted them against Saint Mary's (Minn.) at TRIA Rink on Friday. The Pipers had the slight edge in shots at 29-25, but came up short in a 4-2 decision against the Cardinals.

Hamline falls to 2-2-0, 0-1-0 MIAC, while Saint Mary's improves to 4-1-0, 1-0-0 MIAC.

Saint Mary's 4, Hamline 2

The opening two periods proved to be eventful with a combined 10 penalties and five goals. None of those goals occurred on the power play despite the abundance in penalties. The first period saw Saint Mary's outshoot Hamline 12-5, which gave them a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Mikayla Vasilevich at 5:32, and Celia Midtbo at 7:12. 

The first three combined shots on target of the second period resulted in goals. Hamline knotted things at 2-2 within the opening five minutes of the frame, which started with Sydney Lemke's tally at 00:44, followed by Cheyenne Abear at 4:41. 

Jenna Kurkowski put the Cardinals in the driver's seat for good 20 seconds later at 5:01 to make the score 3-2. 

Hamline mustered 15 shots in the third period, but Saint Mary's goaltender Celeste Rimstad stopped all of them. The Cardinals offense provided Rimstad with a goal at 15:49, when Reese Heitzman widened the margin to 4-2.

Ashley Grabau, Emme Nelson, and Cailey McLaughlin contributed assists for the Pipers.

Hamline goaltender Olivia Rinzel made 21 saves, while Rimstad registered 27 stops for Saint Mary's.

The Pipers will look to split the weekend series with Saint Mary's tomorrow, Saturday, November 11 in Winona, Minnesota at 2 p.m.