By EMILY LOOF
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
WINONA, Minn. — Coming into their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup against conference-leader Hamline Friday evening, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's hockey team knew they would have to be firing on all cylinders.
 
In their last outing, the Pipers scored a staggering 13 goals, routing Concordia 13-4 in the second game of their two-game series last Saturday.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Pipers' offensive firepower did not end last weekend, as Hamline erupted for four goals—including three in the second period—in dealing the Cardinals a 4-2 setback at Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
The Pipers were not about to waste any time kicking their offensive into high gear, scoring just 58 seconds into the first period on a goal by Becca Zarembinski.
 
The Cardinals, however, held off the high-powered Pipers' offensive attack for the remainder of the period—including several quality chances by HU's  top line of Bre Simon, Darby Dodds, and Sarah Bobrowski. That line entered Friday's game with a jaw-dropping 138 combined points.
 
In fact, the Cardinals nearly drew the game back to even on a pair of shot-laden power plays in the last four minutes of the opening frame, but Saint Mary's came up empty and headed into the locker room after one period trailing 1-0.
 
In an eerie replay of the first period, the Pipers again scored a goal in the opening minutes of the second period, this time a power play goal off the stick of Jordan Hansen at 1:29. Dodds followed by extending the lead to 3-0 56 seconds later, and the lead grew to 4-0 at 4:45 on a goal by Simon.
 
The Cardinals were not about to hang their heads, answering with a power-play goal of their own when Kayla Henning (Burnsville, Minn.) blasted a snapshot past Piper goaltender McKenna Hulslander at 11:08 of the second period. Mandy Sailor (Ramsey, Minn.) had the assist.
 
The Cardinal defense was rock-solid in the third period, holding the Pipers scoreless on nine shots. And, unwilling to throw in the towel, Jesse Cwik (Chicago, Ill.) brought the Pipers' lead down to 4-2 with her eighth goal of the season at 19:07, but that was as close as Saint Mary's would get.
 
Ashley Corcoran (Red Wing, Minn.) had nine saves for the Cardinals, while Ary Ziakas (Palatine, Ill.) made 19 saves in 35:15 minutes of relief. Hulslander notched 17 saves for the Pipers.
 
The Cardinals and Pipers close out their two-game series on Saturday, traveling to the Minnesota Wild TRIA Rink in St. Paul, Minn. Opening face-off is set for 2 p.m.