Heading into Thursday’s Class 2A quarterfinal, Hill-Murray defenseman Mekenzie Steffen knew how important it would be to shut down Eastview star Natalie Snodgrass. The two had played together on the national under-18 team, giving Steffen a first-hand view of what Snodgrass could do.

While Hill-Murray’s high-powered offense supplied the firepower in a 6-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center, its stout defense was equally critical. The Pioneers (23-5-0) stopped Snodgrass on a breakaway early in the game, and they never let the Lightning’s leading scorer out of their sight. Eastview (14-13-2) was outshot 38-14 and did not score until Hill-Murray had rolled to a 4-0 lead.

Laura Anderson scored twice for Hill-Murray, the No. 2 seed and defending champion, and Steffen contributed a goal to go with her shutdown defense.

“As the game went on, we got better and better,’’ Steffen said. “And we made sure to watch (Snodgrass) all game. We did a good job not only on her, but defending the rest of the team.’’

Lexi Klein and Rebecca Zarembinski staked Hill-Murray to a 2-0 lead in the first period, and Steffen scored with 5.3 seconds remaining in the second. Anderson made it 4-0 early in the third period before Eastview’s Cassidy Leininger scored on a power play.   
 
Hill-Murray coach Bill Schafhauser said his team started slowly this year but has steadily improved. “We’re a really close team,’’ Anderson said. “We’re peaking at the right time.’’ 

Lexi Klein and Rebecca Zarembinski staked Hill-Murray to a 2-0 lead in the first period, and the second-seeded Pioneers went on to defeat Eastview 6-1 in a Class 2A quarterfinal Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.

Mekenzie Steffen added a goal in the waning seconds of the second period, and Laura Anderson’s third-period goal put Hill-Murray (23-5-0) ahead 4-0 before Eastview (14-13-2) got on the board with a power-play score from Cassidy Leininger. Hill-Murray outshot Eastview 38-14.

Hill-Murray controlled play from the start, peppering Eastview goalie Kaitlyn Pellicci with six shots before the Lightning put their first shot on net. Pellicci made a number of good saves, but the Pioneers’ persistence won out.

Kate Smith set up Klein for their first goal at 9:17 of the first period, spotting Klein in the right circle and delivering a perfect pass that Klein flicked past a sliding Pellicci. At 11:51, the Pioneers scored on another well-executed play. Jac Kaasa, in the left circle, passed to Zarembinski as she barreled to the net, and Zarembinski beat Pellicci on the glove side for a 2-0 lead.

The Pioneers continued to operate efficiently, attempting 30 shots in the second period to Eastview’s 11. The Lightning’s solid team defense staved them off until 5.3 seconds remained, when Steffen scored an unassisted goal from the left circle for a 3-0 lead.

Anderson made it 4-0 at 1:05 of the third, lifting a rebound over the fallen Pellicci after Anderson’s initial shot slipped behind the goalie and banged off the goal post. Eastview got on the board at 5:48 of the third on a power play, as Leininger scored from the left circle.