Benilde-St. Margaret's Boys' Hockey

Benilde-St. Margaret's scored first but Hill-Murray scored more often as the sixth-ranked Pioneers upended the No. 1 Red Knights, 4-2.

T.J. Moore's goal, four minutes, 27 seconds into the contest gave the hosts an early lead by Tyler Funk's power-play tally with 1:32 to play in the opening period would send the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.

Hill-Murray took the lead with 8:00 to play in the second period after winning a faceoff in its own zone. The Pioneers transitioned quickly through the neutral zone and Mitch Slattery carried the puck across the top of the slot to his left, passed the puck to Zach LaValle in the right circle and his shot beat Andrew Sprang inside the right post.

The Red Knights would tie the game before the period was out with a power-play goal. Moore passed the puck from the left-wing boards to Johnny Austin at the left point. His shot was headed wide of the net but Spencer Naas deftly deflected the shot with shaft of his stick for his team-leading sxith goal of the season.

Hill-Murray took the lead for good 3:59 into the final period when LaValle forced a turnover at the BSM blueline. He quickly moved the puck to Slattery in the middle who found Willie Brown in the left faceoff circle. Brown then moved the puck to LaValle, who was streaking into the slot from the right side, and he shot found the back of the net for the eventual game-winning goal.

The Pioneers would add an empty-net goal with four seconds to play in the game when Slattery took a LaValle pass through the neutral zone, beat the BSM defense and scored on a tap-in to seal the win.

Both Sprang and Hill-Murray's John Dugas finished the game with 23 saves as the Pioneers held a 27-25 edge in shots on goal.

The Red Knights return to action to face Holy Angels, Thursday, at Richfield Arena. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.