Pioneer forward Marko Reifenberger had 2 goals on the night. Photo by Nick Wosika

Odd things tend to happen in rivalry games and Tuesday night at Aldrich Arena was no different as Hill-Murray defeated White Bear Lake 5-2 thanks to four shorthanded goals.
 
Four.
 
"I've been doing this for 35 years and I don't think I've ever seen four shorties," Hill-Murray coach Bill Lechner said. "But we'll take it."
 
Luke Ranallo and Marko Reifenberger said they'd never witnessed anything like it either.
 
With the Pioneers entering Tuesday's matchup against their rival staring at a 1-2 record after two straight losses, Lechner said his team needed a win.
 
Hill-Murray, ranked No. 4 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, let some of that built-up pressure dissipate early thanks to some quick, unexpected goals.
 
The Pioneers (2-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead 2 minutes, 24 seconds into the game behind unassisted shorthanded goals from Ranallo and Sean Ryan just 61 seconds apart.
 
Ranallo, who notched his second goal of the season, said the early scores helped the Hill-Murray bench relax a bit. 

"(The shorthanded goals) definitely helped with the nerves," Ranallo said. "We had a packed arena, and clearly it's a big game for us ... so getting those two goals early helped the youngsters, helped the vets and just gets the weight off the shoulders."
 
The Pioneers won their season opener against Burnsville, but had since fallen to No. 3-2A Benilde-St. Margaret's and No. 9-2A Wayzata. And the stress was mounting heading into the game with the No. 20-2A Bears (3-2).
 
"I'm not trying to be arrogant, but we're not allowed to lose two games in a row very much at (Hill-Murray)," Lechner said. "There was a lot of pressure there on all of us and I could see our guys squeezing the sticks a little bit too much."
 
Reifenberger scored his first two goals of the season, with second being the fourth and final shorthanded goal for Hill-Murray. He said he had some early season issues, just as his team did. 
 
"I've kinda been struggling the past few games," Reifenberger said. "The boys just seemed to really turn it on (tonight), and it felt really good to get it."
 
Lechner made it clear that the Pioneers are not where they need to be after a sloppy win. Not even close.
 
But as Reifenberger and Ranallo said, things are starting to shift in the Hill-Murray locker room. 
 
"It's definitely good momentum for us and for the week and to get us out of the losing streak that we were just on," Ranallo said. 

First Report

Hill-Murray scored four shorthanded goals en route to a 5-2 victory over rival White Bear Lake on Tuesday night at Aldrich Arena.

The Pioneers (2-2), ranked No. 4 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, got their first two shorthanded goals, both unassisted, from Luke Ranallo and Sean Ryan just 61 seconds apart early in the first period.

The third came just 5 minutes, 20 seconds into the second period when Brock Bremer scored off assists from Ranallo and Derick Breezee. 

Hill-Murray's fourth goal was scored at full strength and came in the third off the stick of Marko Reifenberger, who was assisted by Ken Baublitz.

Reifenberger also picked up a shorthanded empty-netter in the waning moments of the game.

The No. 20-2A Bears (3-2), who were outshot 28-21, scored their first goal when Wyatt Newpower converted a penalty shot the 6:18 mark of the third period.

White Bear Lake notched its second as Matt Jungwirth and Brock Larson set up Nick Sager for a goal with eight minutes to play.

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