James Morrison’s “One Last Chance” has an apropos quote about the Hamline women’s soccer team’s chances to make the playoffs for the first time in program history: “I can’t lose no more, it’s now or never.”

Three games. All against MIAC opponents. Three teams separating them from a playoff spot. It is now or never for the Pipers after a devastating 1-2 last-minute defeat at the hands of Augsburg (11-2, 6-1 MIAC) at Paterson Field. Hamline’s record-breaking goalie, senior Amy Ramras, will make or break their season.

“Amy’s playing the best soccer of her career now, which is great,” said head coach Ted Zingman. “We just need her to keep doing what she’s doing. All that we expect is that she makes the saves that she is capable of making and she’s been doing that.”

Hamline had been on a three game winning streak before the loss to Augsburg, and a large part of that streak was due to Ramras. Notching two shutouts and making ten saves in those three games, Ramras is playing at a historic level for Hamline goalies.

“I’ve never really had any records before so I don’t know how it happened,” Ramras said. “It’s really exciting and it’s an honor.”

Through 14 games, Ramras’ 2016 statistics place well in Hamline’s all-time single-season record books: fifth in save percentage, third in goals against average, second in wins, and tied for second in shutouts. Her career numbers are even better. She is fourth in saves, fifth in save percentage, first in wins and first in shutouts.

“We don’t talk too much about individual accomplishments during the season,” Zingman said. “Everyone’s aware of it, it’s been written about in articles and it’s something to celebrate once the season’s been over for a few weeks.”

Ramras chose Hamline in 2013 after being recruited by Zingman, University of Minnesota-Morris and several schools in Colorado, her home state.

“I was looking at Adams State and Mesa State for soccer and several bigger state schools for the education,” Ramras said. “I liked the idea of a small school in a big city because I like to be able to talk with my professors if I need help. With that on top of soccer, [Hamline] was a good fit for me.”

Playing behind senior goalkeeper Molly Jacobs and junior goalkeeper Erin Urbanowicz in her first year, Ramras was given the opportunity to start four games that year and went 3-1-0, her three wins coming by way of a shutout.

“I had two keepers ahead of me when I came in so I didn’t think I would get much action as a first-year,” Ramras said. “It was nerve-wracking but it was exciting that I got that kind of opportunity.”

Ramras’ sophomore year saw her rotate with Urbanowicz early on in the year, starting seven games and going 5-1-1. For the second year in a row, all of her wins came by way of the shutout.

“As a first-year and sophomore, [Ramras] was behind two other good goalkeepers so she didn’t see a lot of playing time her first couple of years,” Zingman said. “Between her first and second years I saw a huge change and once she did that, she went off like a rocket.”

Junior year saw Ramras struggle to a 3-8-0 record and lose her starting job for several games to first-year ‘keeper Anna Briscoe before regaining her job and starting the rest of the year.

“She faced some adversity and struggled a bit,” Zingman said. “She rebounded from the adversity in her junior year, took her starting spot and never looked back.”

With talent up and down the roster, this year has seen the women’s team get out to their best start since 2013 with an 8-5-1 record. Despite a fair amount of success over the years, the Pipers have never managed to earn a spot in the playoffs in their 25-year history. The closest they have come recently was in 2013 when they finished sixth in the MIAC.

“Considering the women’s program has never made the playoffs before, the fact that we’re in a position for that opportunity is exciting,” Ramras said. “It would mean the world to the team and I if it goes our way.”

Ramras is one of the captains of the soccer team and has taken to that leadership role.

“She’s friends with everyone and she’s in-tune with all the girls,” said first-year goalkeeper Tess Salen. “She’s a good leader and her style works well with the team.”

Ramras has a good idea of what she wants to do as a career after graduating from Hamline.

“I am looking into graduate school. I want to get my master’s in sports management and recreation,” Ramras said. “I’m hoping to one day become a director or assistant director of a university one day.”

Life after Ramras on the soccer field is not quite known yet for the Pipers. Salen is a contender to possibly replace her and the team is looking at bringing in several goalies.

“We have several goalkeeper recruits that we’re working with right now so there will be more goalkeepers on the team next year,” Zingman said.

The women’s soccer team will return to action with their second-to-last home game of the season this Saturday, Oct. 22, against St. Benedict. Kick-off is 1:00 p.m.