January 15, 2008 @ Aldrich 8:00

Holy Angels made the most of its limited scoring opportunities, and the result was another victory by the one team Hill-Murray can't seem to beat. Holy Angels had started slowly this season, losing four of their first eight games and taking sixth place in the Schwan Cup. But the young Stars showed why they could still be dangerous this year, with junior Danny Mattson sniping three goals and sophomore linemates John Haeg and Connor Reilly adding a goal each.

Hill-Murray couldn't connect on much of anything in the first period. Holy Angels wasn't doing much either, but scored twice on four shots. Danny Mattson's long wrist shot sailed into the upper corner on a 2-on-1, and then Mattson danced around a defender and snapped a shot just inside the left post for a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers' best chance of the period came when Tyler Zepeda fed Dan Cecka across the goalmouth, and goalie Michael Webb sprawled to make a toe save.

Hill-Murray took over the game territorially early in the second period and finally scored by managing to get shots high on Webb. Paul Prescott's centering pass bounced up the slot, where Bo Dolan unloaded a slap shot over Webb's right shoulder to make it 2-1.

A penalty derailed any momentum Hill-Murray might have received from the goal, and although the it was killed successfully, they never got control of the puck afterwards. From the left corner, Haeg fed Reilly who was wide open for a one-time goal off the right post.

On another power play minutes later, Haeg missed a chance to extend the lead further when his shot from the slot hit the outside of the post.

Hill-Murray also came close on their own power play, creating open shots with some pinpoint lateral passing. Andy Singerhouse got the puck in the slot with Webb way out of position, but his shot hit a defenseman's leg. The pressure forced the Stars to take another penalty, and Hill-Murray made the most of a 20 second five-on-three. Ryan Furne fed Dan Sova for a one-timer from the left point that again went into the upper corner.

The Pioneers tied the game early in the third on a Lou Metcalf slap shot from between the circles. Hill-Murray finally appeared ready to take charge on the scoreboard, but Holy Angels' first venture into the offensive zone of the period found the back of the net. A long shot by Mattson was blocked by Phillippi but squirted to his left, leaving Haeg a tap-in goal.

Metcalf nearly tied the game again, coming off the bench as a sixth skater on a delayed penalty, but shot wide with Webb out of position.

Mattson completed his hat trick and gave the Stars a 5-3 lead with a long shot just inside the left post off a drop pass from Reilly.

Hill-Murray managed to get one goal back, as Isaac Kohls fed Chris Casto coming down the slot. Casto's shot went wide, and Nick Widing jammed at the puck from behind the net, causing it to roll off Webb's arm and cross the goal line. But that was all Hill-Murray could muster in the closing minutes, leaving Holy Angels with an improbable 5-4 win.

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