Hill-Murray came into Wednesday's Metro East showdown at Mahtomedi averaging more than three goals a game and needing a victory to, in all practicality, sew up a conference championship. The host Zephyrs sent the Pioneers home unfulfilled.

Neither team could score in 50 minutes of play (two five-minute overtime periods included) and the game ended in a 0-0 tie and left Hill-Murray (6-0-3, 4-0-1 Metro East) with its third tie in nine games and Mahtomedi (7-2-1, 2-01-1 Metro East) still with hopes for a conference championship. 

Mahtomedi is the defending Metro East champion, having won the 2020 title by one point over the Pioneers, which nevertheless beat the Zephyrs twice in three games last season, including a 1-0 decision in the Section 4 Class A final. The Pioneers finished with three conference ties a year ago and 18 points. Mahtomedi had just one conference tie and finished with 19 points.

Mahtomedi controlled play most of the game and put pressure on Hill-Murray junior goaltender Natalie Humbert, who made five saves in the first half and another handful in the second. The Zephyrs put even more shots on goal but had a number of shots sail just over the crossbar in the second half, including with 13:19 left in regulation when Anabel Hillstrom grazed the top bar. 

Senior Audrey Barry put a shot on goal with 2:46 to play that Humbert was able to control.

Each team had chances in overtime, and Hill-Murray had the best chance to win when Ella Runyon's shot hit the top bar, bounced behind Zephyrs goaltender Paige Janssen but never found its way over the goal line.

Mahtomedi has road games remaining at North St. Paul and Hastings.