Hill-Murray rolls past Moorhead

St. Paul, MN-- With already two private schools in the Class AA Semifinals on Friday, the Hill-Murray Pioneers became the third to punch their ticket to the next round. Thanks to a big second period, the Pioneers rolled past Moorhead 5-1 in the Class AA Quarterfinals Thursday night. 

The Pioneers had their big guns rolling early tonight at the Xcel Energy Center. Both Charlie Strobel and Nick Pierre scored in the first period to give their team a 2-0 lead after one. 

Just 2:44 into the second period, the Spuds showed signs of life. A shot on the power play from Luke Gramer found its way to the back of the net. 

That momentum would be short-lived, however. Nick Pierre added his second of the game minutes later, and that was only the start of the Pioneers’ onslaught. Jared Jensen scored a pair of goals just 13 seconds apart, pushing the Pioneers lead to 5-1 by the end of the period. 

Hill-Murray cruised right along in the 3rd period. Neither team could get anything in the back of the net, and Hill-Murray completed the quarterfinal round with a 5-1 win over Moorhead. 

The Class AA semifinals are now set, and feature three private schools: Blake, St. Thomas Academy, and Hill-Murray. The lone public school remaining, Eden Prairie, will battle Blake at 6pm tomorrow. Meanwhile, St. Thomas Academy will face Hill-Murray at 8:30pm.