ST. PAUL, Minn. – With under five minutes left to play in a scoreless game, sophomore Erica Hamilton (Los Angeles, Calif./Palisades Charter) sent a ball to junior Julia Hanson (Weston, Mass./Weston) inside the box. Hanson took it and shot low and to the right, sneaking it past the Piper goalkeeper, to give Macalester its 1-0 road win over Hamline University today. The Scots move to 7-6-2 overall and 4-4-2 in the MIAC, while the Pipers slide to 3-8-7 overall and 1-7-2 in the MIAC.

The win extends Mac's streak without a loss to five (4-0-1) and places them in a tie with Saint Mary's for fifth place in the MIAC standings. The Cardinals continue to chase the Scots up the conference ranks down the stretch of the season.

The game-winning goal was a long time coming for Mac, who outshot the Pipers 6-1 in the first half and 9-2 on the game. The Scots put their first shot on goal in the game's fourth minute, when junior Adi Nhouyvanisvong (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka) sent one low center from just outside the box that forced Hamline's first save. Senior Maia Lemov (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) got the next crack at it in the 13th minute, followed by first-year Evelyn Savoie (Northbridge, Mass./Marianopolis Preparatory School) less than a minute-and-a-half later. All three of Mac's first shots came from roughly the same spot, a couple steps outside the box on the left side. All were on goal, as well.

Hamilton and senior Ella Wu-Ancipink (Los Angeles, Calif./Polytechnic School) got in on the fun as well before the half ended, and Wu-Ancipink and Hanson each attempted shots in the middle of the second half before Hanson's eventual score.

The Scots' backline gave junior Abigail Heuga (San Francisco, Calif./Urban School of San Francisco) an easy day at the office. The Pipers only attempted two shots, and couldn't place either on goal, so Heuga didn't have to make any saves to keep a clean sheet. Hamline took five corners to the Scots' two, but also committed 12 fouls to the Scots' seven.

Macalester won't get to rest long before they go on the road to Superior, Wis. to face the University of Wisconsin-Superior in a late-season non-conference matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 28. That game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. After that, Mac will close its season out at home on Nov. 1 against Bethel University in a game that could decide their MIAC playoff fate.