Hill-Murray 6, Roseau 2

Using a potent mix of skill and surliness, Hill-Murray ousted defending Class 2A champion Roseau with a 6-2 semifinal victory at Xcel Energy Center.

The Pioneers meet Edina (28-2) at 7 tonight. The tradition-rich teams' only previous title-game showdown came in 1988, with Edina winning 5-3.

As a large metro-area private school taking on a small northern team, Hill-Murray (26-3-1) had no shot at being the sentimental favorite. So the Pioneers played the role of outlaw Friday night, needing only brims around their black helmets to complete the look.

They skated with purpose, threw jolting checks and stormed to a 2-0 first-period lead on goals from Nick Widing and Ryan Furne scored 1 minute, 40 seconds apart.

"They are too good a team," Hill-Murray coach Bill Lechner said. "We couldn't sit back. Our game plan was to get a one- or two-goal lead and use our depth to wear them down."

Isaac Kohls further demonstrated the Pioneers' aggressive mind-set by cross-checking Rams star Aaron Ness in the back after the first period ended.

Kohls redeemed himself by setting up Dave Cascalenda's goal at 2:41 of the second period, which put previously undefeated Roseau (30-1) in a 3-0 hole. Kohls later scored two empty-net goals.

A goal from Dustin Moser at 2:14 of the third period gave the Rams life. They appeared to score again, but Nick Oliver's goal was disallowed because Moser was called for goaltender interference.

"That calmed us down and kind of swung the momentum back our way," Lechner said.

After making only 18 saves in his team's 3-0 quarterfinal victory against Lakeville South, goaltender Joe Phillippi said he hoped for more chances to shine against Roseau. The three-year state tournament veteran got his wish and delivered, stopping the Rams' first 26 shots.

Hill-Murray's last title game appearance came in 2002, when the Pioneers lost 4-2 to Holy Angels. Their shot at the title comes 25 years after the 1983 team's undefeated championship season.