WINONA, Minn. — When the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team took the ice Friday evening, there was still a glimmer of hope that the Cardinals would qualifying for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs.

When visiting Hamline scored five goals on its first eight shots, that glimmer was quickly distinguished.

Hamline erupted for five goals in the first period and added two more in the second en route to a 7-4 victory over the host Cardinals, officially eliminating the Cardinals' from post-season consideration — and giving the Pipers their first regular-season conference win over SMU since the 1985-86 season.

"When you fall behind 4-0 in the first 10 minutes, it's pretty tough to come back," said SMU coach Don Olson. "I thought before the game we were ready to go, but then all of a sudden, boom, we've dug ourselves a four-goal hole."

A hole the Cardinals almost dug themselves out of.

Almost.

After Jim Deschene, Troy Kleven, Ryan Manke and Jason Stellino gave the Pipers' their four-goal advantage SMU's offense got on track — getting back-to-back-to-back goals from Al Schumacher (Oakdale, Minn.), B.J. Gaustad (Portland, Ore.) and Jason Fillipp (Fox River Grove, Ill.) to cut the lead to 4-3 with five minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, Manke netted the second of his three goals before the period ended and added goal No. 3 five minutes into the second period as Hamline's lead once again ballooned to 6-3.

Todd Hangge (Rochester, Minn.) made it 6-4 with his second goal of the season at the 15:21 mark of the second period, only to have Brice Parks beat SMU goalie Dave Rogalski (St. Louis Park, Minn.) on a breakaway with three seconds remaining in the second to close out the scoring.