ST. PAUL, Minn. — After managing just four goals in its last four games combined, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team kicked its offense into high gear Friday evening against Hamline.
 
Thanks in large part to Jamie Henderson (Madison, Wis.).
 
The junior recorded her first collegiate hat trick to spark a five-goal Saint Mary's offensive performance—the Cardinals' highest single-game effort since netting a season-high six goals in a 6-3 win over St. Olaf on Nov. 17.
 
Unfortunately, the Pipers' offense was also shifted into overdrive, erupting for a season-high seven goals—including three by Darby Dodds—as Hamline dealt the Cardinals a 7-5 Minnesota Intercollegiate setback at Oscar Johnson Arena.
 
"It was a wild game," said Saint Mary's coach Terry Mannor. "I was very pleased to see this team battle from start-to-finish—they never quit."
 
Hamline struck first, getting a shorthanded goal by Bre Simon at 11:03 of the opening period. Three minutes later, the Pipers struck again—again shorthanded—as Dani Wright beat Cardinal goalie Ashley Corcoran to push HU's lead to 2-0.
 
The Cardinals would cut the gap to one before the period ended, getting a goal from Jamie Henderson (Madison, Wis.)—with an assist from Kayla Pierson (Shorewood, Ill.)—with 2:57 remaining to make it 2-1 Hamline after 20 minutes of play.
 
Saint Mary's did not waste any time pulling even with the Pipers, as Bailey Wendt (Coon Rapids, Minn.) scored her fourth of the season 1:53 into the middle frame—only to have Hamline answer 13 seconds later with a goal by Dodds to regain the lead, 3-2.
 
Things would settle down after the wild start to the second period, as the Pipers would cling to that 3-2 advantage over the final 17:57 of the middle period.
 
But it would heat up again to open the third, as the game's final 20 minutes started in much the same way as the second—with a flurry of offensive action.
 
Dodds needed just 2:30 of the final stanza to net her second of the night to push the Hamline lead to 4-2, only to have Henderson tally her second of the game just a minute later to pull the Cardinals back within one, 4-3.
 
And the two teams were just getting warmed up.
 
Melanie Bartenstein scored at 8:52 of the third, and Dodds completed her hat trick three minutes later to give Hamline what appeared to be a commanding 6-3 advantage.
 
In a span of 1:19, however, that three-goal advantage was back to one, as Kassie Lien (Grantsburg, Wis.) scored at 15:30 and Henderson added goal No. 3 at 16:49 to get the Cardinals back within one, 6-5.
 
That would be as close as the Cardinals would get, as Hamline's Sadie Baker would find the back of the net to round of the scoring—and seal the Pipers' victory.
 
The Cardinals (1-6-2 MIAC, 4-10-2 overall) and Pipers (6-3-0 MIAC, 8-7-1 overall) will conclude their two-game conference series on Saturday, heading to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for a 2 p.m. matchup.