NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's hockey team stretched its unbeaten streak to four games with a 3-1 victory in its series opener with Hamline University on Friday night at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Sophomore Troy Bowditch picked up an assist on all three goals for St. Olaf (4-1-1, 2-1-0 MIAC), which got goals from sophomores Ethan Hersant, Sean Walsh, and Tyler Cooper to improve to 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings with Hamline (3-3-0, 1-2-0 MIAC). The Oles' 4-1-1 start to a season is their best since going 5-1-0 to open the 1992-93 season.

Bowditch's three points were a career-high total, while Cooper added a goal and an assist in the victory. Sophomore Thomas Lalonde collected his second-straight win with a 17-save night.

Hersant tallied the lone goal of the opening period – his second of the season – at the 16:11 mark, as Bowditch found an open Hersant in front from behind the goal for a one-timer. The Oles outshot the Pipers by a 16-4 margin in shots on goal over the opening 20 minutes but settled for a 1-0 lead after one.

St. Olaf extended its lead to 3-0 after two periods thanks to second-period goals from Walsh and Cooper. Walsh swatted in a rebound on the power play at 7:26 after sophomore Matthew Pointer's initial shot was saved following a cross-ice pass from Bowditch. Eight minutes later, Cooper put in a rebound off his own initial shot after Bowditch set him up with a backhand pass.

Hamline got on the board just 26 seconds into the third period on a goal by Sam Dabrowski, which was the lone shot that got by Lalonde on the night. The Oles doubled up the Pipers, 36-18, in shots on goal in the game and held Hamline scoreless on four power-play opportunities.

St. Olaf and Hamline conclude their series on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at TRIA Rink in St. Paul.