Game Summary

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It wasn't the ending Don Olson was hoping for, but Saturday's 3-2 setback to Hamline was just a footnote to the weekend for the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team.

After all, thanks to Friday's a — and a 6-4 loss by St. Olaf to Concordia — the Cardinals had already not only locked up their first MIAC post-season playoff berth since the 1996-97 season, but they also secured home ice for next Tuesday's No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game.

"Obviously, we would have liked to play better in our final game, but I guess a bit of a letdown (after Friday night) was to be expected," said Olson, whose team ends the regular season with an 8-7-1 MIAC record and a 13-10-2 overall mark. "It would have been nicer to go into the (MIAC playoffs) on a winning note, rather than coming off a loss. We didn't play well (Saturday), we just didn't compete the way we did (in Friday's win) — and the way we need to in the playoffs."

The Cardinals will have a complete week to prepare for their tournament opener against either Augsburg and St. Olaf, who are tied for the fifth spot with 13 points. St. Olaf faces Hamline next weekend, while Augsburg squares off against league-leading St. John's.

"We need to use this week to rest, heal, and prepare," said Olson. "We can't dwell on (Saturday's loss), but hopefully we learned from it — we can't afford to take anything for granted. We've got to put our best game on the ice, nothing more, nothing less."

After a scoreless first period, Griffin Kirby got Hamline on the board four minutes into the second period. Morgan Buetow-Staples (Arden Hills, Minn.) tied the game six minutes later as the teams took a 1-1 tie into the locker room after two periods.

In the third period, Lubos Taragel broke the tie at 5:38, but again SMU battled back, getting a goal from Lenny Hofmann (Sartell, Minn.) with just 2:17 remaining in regulation. The tie, however, lasted just 1:02, as Mike Johnson netted the game-winner, beating SMU goalie Curtis Nosal (Omaha, Neb.) at 18:55, giving the Pipers their first MIAC win of the season — and their third in their last four games.