Hill-Murray School in Maplewood will hold a grand opening of its new Mary Queen of Victory Stadium on Sept. 16 in conjunction with the Pioneers' homecoming football game.

The $3.5 million renovation project was funded entirely by donations from the Hill-Murray community. Current, former and future Pioneers will be on hand to celebrate the grand opening.

The Pioneers, led by new coach Pete Bercich, a former Vikings linebacker, play Hastings.

The name Mary Queen of Victory Stadium honors of the "Mary, Queen of Victory" prayer that all Hill-Murray teams recite before each game.

Cross-country rankings

North and east metro teams and runners dotted the preseason Class 2A boys' cross-country coaches poll. After Wayzata and Edina came Centennial (No. 3) and Stillwater (No. 4). Mounds View (No. 8) and Maple Grove (No. 9) also cracked the top 10.

Runners included Maple Grove's Alex Miley (third), Innocent Murwanashyaka of St. Paul Como Park (fourth), Centennial's Reed Kurak (sixth) and Kevin Dado of Totino-Grace (ninth).

On the girls' side, no individual runners from the north and east metro made the top 12 but teams Forest Lake (eighth) and White Bear Lake (No. 14) were recognized.

Pitch perfect

Three East Metro girls' soccer teams, East Ridge, Roseville and Stillwater, jumped to 3-0 starts this season. All three teams reside in the Suburban East Conference and Class 2A, Section 4.

David La Vaque