It may have been closer than years past, but Stillwater is on its way back to the girls’ lacrosse state tournament for the seventh consecutive season.

The Ponies edged Hill-Murray 8-7 on Tuesday evening, locking down on an offensive strategy rooted in possession to snuff out the Pioneers’ comeback bid.   

“We’ll take any win we can get,” Stillwater coach Rick Reidt said. “I think our girls worked really hard and played smart at the end.”

The Ponies (13-2) seemingly scored at will during the season and throughout the Section 4 playoffs, tallying at least 10 goals in 11 consecutive games entering Tuesday’s contest.

That scoring prowess has been especially true during the postseason. 

The past six section title wins for the Ponies were won by an average of nine goals, drubbing their opponents by a combined score of 88-34 in those games.   

Helping to put an end to that streak was Hill-Murray goaltender Paige Wallner, who joined her team after flying home from South Dakota in time to frustrate the typically dominant Stillwater offense. 

“She did outstanding,” Pioneers’ coach Theresa Boyd said, adding that this is Wallner's first season as a lacrosse goaltender. 

Both senior Luci Bischoff and junior Abby Hagberg recorded three goals in the win for Stillwater.  

Boyd tipped her cap to the Ponies, but said that she took pride in her team’s first performance in the section finals. 

“Stillwater’s a great team [with] a great coach,” Boyd said.  “To play [to within] one goal is an incredible accomplishment for our team and for our program.”

Senior attacker Caroline Cayot led the Pioneers (13-2) on offense with three goals.   

Senior Luci Bischoff and junior Abby Hagberg each recorded three goals to lead Stillwater to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Hill-Murray in the Section 4 finals on Tuesday evening at Roseville Area High School.

Stillwater (13-2) raced to a 3-0 lead in the first half, but was stymied for much of the game by Hill-Murray's senior goalie, Paige Wallner, who allowed only one score in the seconnd half.

Senior attacker Caroline Cayot scored three goals, while junior attacker Hannah Ondrusik scored twice, to pace the second-seeded Pioneers (13-2). 

The win sends the Ponies, ranked No. 7 in the state coaches' poll, to their seventh consecutive state tournament.

The MN Lacrosse Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only.