Playing for possession instead of long, more direct passes has been a focus for the No. 7-2A Zephyrs this fall. It might not have always described their style of play previously, but the change appeared to pay dividends Wednesday.

“It’s a big learning curve for us because we haven’t really played this way ever,” said Luke Yee Yick, who scored the first goal of the game in the second half. “So we’re playing out of the back. We’re getting better at it and starting to break teams down, get forward with it.”

There is a good chance these two teams have not played for the last time this fall, even as the schedule will soon enter the final week of the regular season. Last season, Mahtomedi defeated Hill-Murray 2-1 in the Class 1A Section 4 championship in late October. The Pioneers had won the other matchup between the two teams 1-0 in the same month.

“It’s a rivalry game,” Isaac said. “We knew they were going to be good last year. We ended their season last year. So they want to get back at us. They are just right down the road.”

The loss might have been disappointing for a Pioneers team hoping to compete for the top seed as both teams prepare for section play.

Hill-Murray head coach Jeff Zupfer credited Mahtomedi's back line for slowing the number of chances his talented scorers had in the offensive zone. After playing their only head-to-head regular season game, both teams know what to expect if they meet in the section playoffs.

“It’s a good little rivalry; it’s a good battle,” Zupfer said. “They bring out the best in us, and hopefully we do the same for them.”

Mahtomedi’s defense held rival Hill-Murray's scorers in check throughout a 2-0 victory in a home Metro East Conference matchup Wednesday.

The home Zephyrs (11-2-0, 5-1-0) broke a scoreless game when Luke Yee Yick buried a pass from teammate Leo De La Torre for a 1-0 lead about six minutes into the second half. Teammate Yassin Hussein scored one more goal with less than three minutes remaining as the Mahtomedi defense continued to hold Hill-Murray (11-2-0, 5-1-0) scoreless.

The game was a potential section playoff preview. Last season, Mahtomedi defeated Hill-Murray 2-1 in the Class 1A Section 4 championship.

Pioneers goalkeeper Owen Dinzeo made six saves, including three in the second half to keep his team in the game.