Eastview senior Tanner Hamill celebrates with Nick Abbott (12) after Hamill scored one of his three goals to help lead the Lightning to victory over Prior Lake. Photo by Brian Nelson
Senior Tanner Hamill scored two of his three goals in the third quarter and added an assist as No. 1-seeded Eastview avenged a regular season loss to No. 4-seeded Prior Lake with a 15-7 Section 3 semifinal win on Thursday, May 31, at Burnsville High School.
The game was tied at 4 at halftime, but the Lightning (11-3) struck early and often in the third quarter with six players scoring goals en route to a 7-2 advantage.
Eastview dominated the second half, outscoring Prior Lake (11-3) by eight goals.
Eastview moves on to play No. 2-seeded Eagan on Tuesday, June 4, at Burnsville High School in a rematch of last year's Section 3 championship game.
"I think in the second half we calmed down," said Eastview's Mitch Beattie, who had two goals and an assist. "We really came together as a team and played our offense, and did what we're known to do."
Hamill scored his second goal after Jake McGlockin recovered a ground ball off the faceoff and passed to Hamill, who faked a shot high and sent a bounce shot between Prior Lake goaltender Aaron Wiederhoeft's legs. Ryan McNamara also scored the first of his two goals in similar fashion midway through the third quarter.
"We were playing scared to lose," McNamara said about Eastview's sluggish first half. "Everyone came together, we settled the ball down, and we started scoring goals."
Joey Kleven led the Lakers with three goals.
1. Tanner Hamill, Eastview
Hamill's shifty moves left him open on several plays. Each of his three goals were assisted as Eastview began to move the ball better in the second half. Hamill broke free from defenders in the slot and sniped all three goals.
2. Ryan McNamara, Eastview
Speed is McNamara's weapon, and he used it making cuts to create scoring opportunities from behind the net. McNamara scored up top on one of his goals and had two assists from behind the net early in the game.
3. Joey Kleven, Prior Lake
Kleven has put up big numbers for the Lakers' all year. He showed tenacity scoring in the second quarter and shaking some late contact from an Eastview defender. Kleven battled to the end and scored with a bounce shot after spinning past a defender late in the fourth quarter.
Prior Lake's Joey Kleven had three goals and an assist against Eastview. Photo by Brian Nelson
Eastview senior Ryan McNamara tries to maneuver around Prior Lake's Zach Petron. McNamara had two goals and two assists on the night. Photo by Brian Nelson
Prior Lake's Jeremy Goltz fires this hard shot but just misses. Goltz scored a goal and an assist for the Lakers in the loss. Photo by Brian Nelson
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