MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Hamline lost to North Central (MN) 2-1 on Monday at Elliot Park Field. The Pipers finished with a 16-11 advantage in shots and put 10 shots on goal in the loss.
The Pipers created most of the first-half offense, outshooting North Central (MN) 11-4 and forcing seven saves from Owen Ellefson plus a team save, but the teams went into halftime at 0-0. The early push began with
William Ferrufino's shot saved in the second minute, followed by two
Anthony Porter attempts, a
Beniam Makonnen shot saved and another Ferrufino look during the opening six minutes.
Brandon Cruz Rojas kept North Central (MN) off the board with a save at 11:31, and
Cris Romero answered shortly after by hitting the right woodwork before the Pipers earned a corner. The Pipers added another spell of pressure after Makonnen's shot was stopped by a team save, with
Thad Miller and Makonnen forcing saves in the 34th through 38th minutes before Miller hit the left woodwork and the Pipers won a late corner.
The Pipers kept pushing after falling into a two-goal hole and got on the board at 88:04 when
Thad Miller scored to pull the visitors within 2-1. Earlier, the Pipers created pressure after halftime with a corner in the 48th minute, Porter hitting the top woodwork in the 53rd, and
William Ferrufino putting two shots wide before the 63rd minute. North Central (MN) answered with its own chances, including a team save by the Pipers in the 66th minute, before Samuel Tivane Jr. scored in the 69th minute and David Ajayi added another in the 78th to make it 2-0. Miller had forced a save in the 76th minute and the Pipers earned another corner in the 83rd before his late goal, but North Central (MN) held on for the 2-1 final.
Thad Miller scored the Pipers' goal and led the team with five shots, putting four on goal. Ferrufino added four shots, including one on goal. Makonnen put all three of his shots on goal, while Porter recorded three shots with two on target.
The Pipers are 4-10-3 overall and 1-6-2 in conference play. North Central (MN) is 5-13-0 overall and 4-6-0 in conference play.
Up next, the Pipers host St. Olaf College on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3:30 p.m. at Pat Paterson Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.
