ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer team had its offense shifted in high gear Saturday afternoon.
 
And so did Hamline.
 
The Cardinals and Pipers combined for six goals—including five in the first half—but it was the Hamline offense that proved the most explosive, as HU erupted for four goals in dealing Saint Mary's a 4-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback at Paterson Field.
 
The offensive fireworks started early—and often—with four goals taking place before the game was even 17 minutes old.
 
Hamline struck first on a goal by Kaley Roberts just 2:22 into the opening half, and, 1:12 later, the game was deadlocked, as Erin McElligott (New York City, N.Y.) found the back of the net with her third goal of the season.
 
But the teams were just getting warmed up.
 
Brittany Beckman and Roberts scored four minutes apart to give Hamline a short-lived, 3-1 advantage, as Becca Dup (Albert Lea, Minn.) netted the fifth goal of the half—her sixth of the year—in the 36^th minute to make it 3-2 heading into the break.
 
Hamline would be the only team to find the back of the net over the game's final 45 minutes, getting a goal from Ashlee Olson in the 76^th minute to seal the victory.
 
Cardinal goalkeeper Gabriella Pederson (Chaska, Minn.) recorded 11 saves, while Hamline's Kat Armstrong stopped six of Saint Mary's eight shots on goal.
 
The Cardinals (0-7-1 MIAC, 5-8-1 overall) step out of conference play for the final time on Tuesday, entertaining UW-Stout in a 7 p.m. nonconference game at Ochrymowycz Field.