Hill-Murray improves to 5-0, takes over top spot in rankings

Once again there is a new No. 1 in girls Class AA as Hill-Murray takes the top spot win week three of competition. The Pioneers have made easy work of their opponents thus far, including an 8-1 win over No. 13 Bemidji. In that game they outshot the Lumberjacks 51-25 and got a hat trick from Sophie Olson and a goal and two assists from Anna Pohl. Jaycee Chatleain had a goal and an assist and currently leads the team with 15 points. Regan Berglund and Josie Skoogman also added a goal and an assist.

They will have a big test tonight when they host No. 6 Edina at Polar Arena. The Hornets are 2-1-0  on the season and haven’t played in a week. Last Tuesday they lost 3-0 to No. 5 Andover. Andover (3-2-0) got a goal and an assist each from Hannah Christensen and Hanna Olson. Goalie Clairebella Hills stopped all 14 shots she faced.

Centennial/Spring Lake Park jumped from No. 5 to No. 2 in this week’s rankings after beating last week’s No. 1 Minnetonka 3-2. They scored three first period goals (Ayla Specht, Lillian Renslow and Mia Sutch) and held on after a pair of Minnetonka goals by Ruby Sauk and Ellie Zakrajsheck. Goalie Kaia Weiland stopped 32 shots to earn the win.

They followed up with a convincing 7-2 win over No. 13-ranked Champlin Park/Coon Rapids. Katie Ball and Alexis Larsen each had two goals to lead the Cougars.

Holy Family cracked the top 5 this week and comes in at No. 3. Last week they were ranked sixth, but Kayla Swarthout stopped all 38 shots in a 4-0 win over Andover. Swarthout stopped 18 shots in the third period and the Fire got four goals for four different players – Chloe King, Ella Nonweiler, Allie DeFauw and Taryn Richter. They will take on No. 18 Eden Prairie tonight.

Maple Grove, Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Moorhead all shifted spots to help round out this week’s Top 10. Roseau makes a nice jump from No. 15 and are now 6-2-0 on the season. St. Cloud State commit Payton Remick has 20 points in their first eight games, including a hat trick in a 4-3 win over Orono. Jasmine Hovda has 19 points for the Rams.

Class AA Girls Rankings – Presented by Tradition Companies (11/26/24)

Other Teams ReceivingVotes: Grand Rapids/Greenway, Owatonna, Stillwater, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Cretin-Derham Hall, Prior Lake.