Emily Pohl completes her hat trick with a wraparound on an empty net to give the Pioneers a 5-3 win over Andover. Hill-Murray will play Rosemount Friday in the semifinals. LPH PHOTO BY JEFF ANDERSON

Pioneers one game away from return trip to state final

Emily Pohl scored a hat trick and younger sister Anna Pohl also scored as Hill-Murray held off a late rally to defeat Andover 5-3 in the Class AA quarterfinals.

Elliana Englehardt opened the scoring for Hill-Murray who staked themselves to a 3-0 lead. Emily and Anna Pohl also had first-period goals and it had the markings of a potential blowout. But Julia Gerdes scored a late goal to keep Andover in it before the first buzzer sounded.

After a scoreless second period, Pohl scored her second of the game to give the Pioneers a 4-1 lead. But the Huskies clawed back with goals from Maya Engler and Hannah Christenson to make it 4-3 with still almost five minutes to play.

But the Pioneers held the lead and after Andover pulled goalie Clairebella Hills, Pohl skated past two diving defenders and from behind the net wrapped the puck into the empty goal to complete her hat trick and seal the win for the Pioneers who are making their second straight trip to the semifinals.

Last season they defeated Andover in the semifinals 3-1 to advance to the state championship game where they fell to Edina 2-0. This year they will face No. 7 seed Rosemount, who upset No. 2 seed Centennial/Spring Lake Park 3-2 in the early game. Andover will play Centennial-Spring Lake Park in the consolation bracket.

Pohl’s hat trick gives her 39 goals on the season. The Pioneers defeated Rosemount 6-0 on Dec. 10.

Shots on goal were 30-26 in favor of Hill-Murray. Hills made 25 saves for the Huskies. Piper Tam turned away 23 shots for the Pioneers.