Since 2008, Section 4AA has consisted of Hill-Murray or Stillwater trying to grab one of the final spots in the Class 2A state tournament.

Never have the two played each other in the finals until the Pioneers 4-1 victory against their East Metro rival on Friday at Aldrich Arena in Maplewood.

The top-seeded Pioneers outshot No. 2 seed Stillwater 36-14 and were led by sophomore Laura Anderson's two goals to help them to their second straight state tournament and third in the past four years.

"It never gets old," senior Sarah Bobrowski said. "I'm just really excited about being back."

Hill-Murray has been in the section finals for the past five seasons. The previous four it played state power Roseville and were 2-2 in those contests.

"We rely a lot on our experience," Pioneers' coach Bill Schafhauser said. "A lot of our players have been in this game before, so it was nice to see how well they played at the end."

Anderson scored the first two goals, but midway through the second, Stillwater's Taylor Naugle scored a shorthanded goal when her wrist shot beat Hill-Murray goalie Leah Patrick to cut the Pioneers lead to 2-1.

"It wasn't our best period," Schafhauser said. "But I like the way we came out in the third."

The Ponies pushed Hill-Murray early in the third, but the Pioneers responded with a knockout punch when Rebecca Zarembinski's wrist shot found the upper right corner.

Lindsey Featherstone followed just three minutes later to put a dagger into the Ponies season.

"After the second, we played some music and just loosened up," Bobrowski said. "We came out more aggressive and just played a better game."

Instead of the Ponies pushing the issue as the third progressed, Hill-Murray kept coming and outshot Stillwater 14-3 in the final 17 minutes.

"It was important for us to come out and play that way in the third," Schafhauser said. "Stillwater is a team that has talent to come back on you, just like they did the other night, so we knew it was important to close it out the way we did.

Last season Hill-Murray made it all the way to the state title game, only to fall to Minnetonka.

There is unfinished business to take care of, but the Pioneers are just going to enjoy this one at least for the night.

"I am just really excited and happy for our team," Anderson said. "I can't wait for next week."