Hamline women’s hockey defeated the Endicott Gulls in the first round of the NCAA playoffs by a score of 3-0 on March 14. They move on to face #2-ranked Norwich University on March 21 in Northfield, Vermont.

Despite Hamline playing close to half of the first period in Endicott’s defending zone and having three power play opportunities, Endicott’s sophomore goalie Lauren Ferrari kept the scoresheet clean through the first period.

Momentum was far more fluid in the second period, with Hamline and Endicott trading chances throughout. Hamline’s first-year forward and conference Rookie of the Year, Nina Thorson, was first to break through with just under eight minutes left in the second. Her shot from just outside the goalie’s crease pushed the game to 1-0. After a few close calls came and went for both sides, but that score held through to the third period.

After eight shots total between the two teams to open the third period, a power play in favor of Hamline stemming from a tripping penalty resulted in a Piper goal. Sophomore forward Ashlyn Abrahamson made the game 2-0. Deep into the third period, she would make it 3-0, receiving a pass mere seconds after Endicott made the decision to pull Ferrari out of the goal and guiding the puck into the empty net.

Hamline stuck to their playstyle: shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. The Pipers had 44 shots on goal compared to Endicott’s 19, while still holding the Gulls to a shutout. Next week will be a serious test for Hamline, testing their high-octane offense against one of the best teams in the nation.