MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.--The Hamline University women's hockey team fell to No. 8 Augsburg 4-2 on Friday in Minneapolis.

The Pipers, who had the upper hand in shots 34-28 in the contest, falls to 10-6-0, 5-4-0 MIAC, while the nationally-ranked Auggies improve to 13-2-1, 8-1-0 MIAC.

Augsburg 4, Hamline 2

The first period began with the Pipers winning multiple faceoffs, setting an early tone in possession. Aunna Schulte received a penalty for tripping at 1:47, giving Hamline a power play opportunity, which they were unable to capitalize on. Augsburg opened the scoring at 9:15 with a power-play goal by Jenna Allen, assisted by Nora Stepan and Aunna Schulte. They extended their lead to 2-0 with an even-strength goal from Aunna Schulte at 10:22. Hamline responded with a goal by Haley Eder-Zdechlik at 12:48, closing the period with the Auggies leading 2-1.

The second period commenced with a faceoff win for the Auggies, but the Pipers quickly controlled the puck, winning the next two faceoffs. Despite multiple attempts, Hamline's shots, including those from Ashlyn Abrahamson and Abigail Chamernick, were either wide or saved by Augsburg goalie, Kayla Simonson. Nora Stepan hit the pipe at the 9:47 mark, and despite a power play opportunity following a tripping penalty against Iyla Ryskamp, Augsburg could not capitalize. Towards the end of the period, Kylie Huseth was penalized for body checking, giving the Auggies another power play, yet the score remained unchanged at 2-1 through the end of the frame.

The third period began with a strong defensive effort from the Pipers as Abigail Chamernick blocked two shots from the Auggies within the first minute. Augsburg capitalized on a power play opportunity at 5:10 when Emma Abrahamson scored, extending their lead to 3-1. Hamline responded with a goal by Abigail Chamernick at 17:49, closing the gap to 3-2 after pulling their goalie for an extra attacker. However, the Auggies secured the victory with an empty-net goal by Nora Stepan at 19:34, finalizing the score at 4-2.

Abigail Chamernick and Haley Eder-Zdechlik were key offensive players for Hamline, each scoring one goal. Chamernick also contributed significantly with seven blocked shots. Iyla Ryskamp stood out in face-offs, winning 68% of her attempts. Ashlyn Abrahamson and Nikki Olund excelled in the face-off circle, with winning percentages of 66% and 76%, respectively. Kendra Nordick, in goal, made 24 saves for the Pipers.

Jenna Allen stood out for the Auggies, scoring one goal and one power-play goal, contributing significantly to the team's efforts. Emma Abrahamson also made a notable impact with a game-winning goal and a power-play tally, showcasing her clutch performance. Nora Stepan led the team with two points, including one goal and one assist, demonstrating her offensive capabilities. Aunna Schulte matched Stepan's contributions with one goal and one assist, highlighting her role in the team's attacking plays. Lastly, Kayla Simonson made a strong showing as the goalie, making 32 saves in her appearance, underscoring her defensive skills between the pipes.

Hamline will host Augsburg at TRIA Rink tomorrow, Saturday, January 25 at 4 p.m.