NORTHFIELD, Minn. – In its first home playoff game since 2012, the fourth-seeded St. Olaf College women's hockey team fell to fifth-seeded Hamline University, 2-1, in overtime in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs on Friday evening.

First year MaKenna Beaver gave St. Olaf (14-10-2) a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game before Nikki Olund tied the game at 1-1 late in the second period for Hamline (10-15-1). The game remained locked at a goal apiece until Emme Nelson scored at 5:14 of the first overtime to send the Pipers into the semifinals.

Hamline advances to face top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College in the semifinals on Sunday, Feb. 26 in St. Peter. St. Olaf saw its season come to a close with 14 victories – the joint-third-most in a season in program history – and finished above .500 for the first time since 2009-10.

In front of a raucous crowd, Beaver gave the Oles an early lead by firing a shot through traffic from the top of the left circle at 4:43 of the opening period off an assist from sophomore Lauren Spear. The goal was just the second of Beaver's career and came shortly after sophomore Iona Welsch drove to the net and drew a save on the first quality scoring chance of the game.

Hamline responded late in the second period to tie the game, as Nikki Olund scored on the backhand on a breakaway off a stretch pass from Erika Broten at 16:05 to bring the visitors level. St. Olaf had two opportunities to grab the lead before the second intermission, but first year Molly Terebayza was denied on the forehand on a breakaway with just over two minutes remaining before Sophie McBane walked in front from behind the net and drew a save from Maddie Nickell with a minute and a half left.

The third period featured just 11 combined shots on goals, as the teams went to overtime tied at 1-1. First year Hannah Fritz had a pair of save in the first two-plus minutes of overtime before the Oles generated five-straight shots. It was the Pipers, however, who found the game-winning goal, as Nelson's shot hit a St. Olaf skater, lifted in the air, and found its way in at the 5:14 mark.

The Oles held a 31-26 advantage in shots on goal in the game and had the lone power play late in the opening period. Nickell stopped 30 of the 31 shots she faced to earn the victory, while Fritz took the loss with a 24-save evening.

The game marked the end of the career for St. Olaf's six seniors: Samantha Martin, Madeline Gag, Annika Patterson, Makenzie Booth, Maddie Anderson, and Chloe LaFond. The group helped take the program from back-to-back winless seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20 to one of the best seasons in program history this winter.