Shaking off a lengthy break, the fourth-ranked Minnetonka Skippers put together an impressive 5-0 victory over No. 3 Hill-Murray in the opening game of South St. Paul's Kaposia Classic Invitational girls' hockey tournament Thursday.

The Skippers found their groove in the final minutes of the game after two periods with few shots.

"[This being] our first game back after a little break, the team played really well,'' Minnetonka coach Eric Johnson said. "The third period went well. We were feeling pretty confident at that point."

Johnson was quick to praise junior goalie Sydney Rossman, who stopped 13 shots and held an opponent scoreless for the fourth consecutive game.

Minnetonka's Laura Bowman, who scored 23 goals last year for the defending Class 2A champions, scored twice, bringing her season total to 11.

"We're going in the right direction," Johnson said. "I feel really good about how we played the last four games. Our girls have been working hard and they're doing the things we've been asking of them. I feel like we're better now than we were three weeks ago."

Hill-Murray, which defeated Minnetonka 5-4 earlier this season, suffered its first loss in more than six weeks. The loss also broke a streak of eight consecutive victories over ranked teams. The Pioneers fall into the consolation bracket, and will resume their regular season next Friday against North St. Paul.

ANDREW KNEELAND