Kenzie Prater (face to camera) celebrated after scoring the winning and only goal of the game. (Marlin Levison, Star Tribune)
Second-seeded Hill-Murray advanced to its second straight Class 2A girls' hockey championship game with a 1-0 victory against Eden Prairie on Friday.
It is the second straight year the Pioneers knocked the Eagles out in the state semifinals
Kenzie Prater's goal in the second period was all the Pioneers needed in a strong defensive effort where it outshot the Eagles 29-8.
Eighth-grader Alexa Dobchuk stopped 28 shots for the Eagles in the loss.
Hill-Murray, in its third state tournament, will get a second chance for its first state title on Saturday night when it takes on the winner of Lakeville North and top seed Benilde-St. Margaret's.
A year ago the Pioneers lost to Minnetonka 3-1.