By Dave Erickson

The Raiders traveled to Hill Murray on Tuesday, May 3 and played what ended up being a contentious game against the Pioneers. The Raiders knew going in that it would be a close game as they took a loss to the Pioneers the second game of the season last year, and they were ready. The Raiders senior goalie Jackson Sweeney and allpurpose, play anything senior John Chorlton able to play this year. (The senior captains were unable to play the first two games of last year due to close contact in a classroom at school). The Pioneers also returned a lot of players and are playing very well, with their only loss coming to a very good and undefeated Chisago Lakes team.

The Game was the Minnesota State Prep game of the week, which means there is an opportunity to watch a replay of the game online. This is the perfect game to watch if you are simply a fan of watching student athletes leaving everything on the field.

Over the years, the Raiders have been known for their stick skills and passing. This game the Raiders set the tone as a more physical team playing the body boxing out and winning ground balls.

Owen Glade a senior long pole defenseman really set the tone with a couple of very physical and very legal body checks protecting the crease and Keeper Jackson Sweeney. Even with them being legal plays, they brought a lot of complaints from the crowd, and retaliations from the Pioneers.

Sophomore Luke Chorlton started the scoring and sophomore Ryan Clemens quickly added the second goal early in the first. John Chorlton and Ben Zaccardi added goals to round out the scoring in the first quarter. The Raiders second quarter saw the start of the march to the penalty box. Tom Reifenberger got locked in for three minutes for a check he did not make. John and Luke Chorlton also found time in the box before the half was over, Luke getting one that everyone thought was on Hill, even the Hill player thought he was in trouble. Hill took this opportunity to score a couple of nice goals, as the Raiders were caught chasing sticks.

The second half started 44 and the Pioneers kept the ball with the penalty on Chorlton. But the Raiders played tough, and we’re still tied when Wyatt Vieth scored from the point on a nice pass from Luke Chorlton, then a questionable turnover led to a quick score for the Pioneers.

That was the point when John Chorlton said ‘not again, not like the last time we were on this field, not tonight.’ With Tom Reifenberger in the box John started taking face offs and finished the game winning 9of12, he also added five more goals and did not come off the field except for another questionable penalty call playing defense at the midline. His play as a LSM and with a shorty not only impressed Raider fans but also Prep Sports naming him a Prep Player. It was John’s best game this season, and a real good day to have it.

The Raiders penalty woes continued when a slash was called on Brady Nickel. Watching the replay, it looked as though the official made a mistake on the penalty call, but high school sports do not have the luxury of instant replay and the refs are watching a lot in real time. Sadly, with roughly 24 minutes left in the game, Hastings had been penalized 11 times to Hill-Murrays three. John Chorlton finished with five goals. Luke Chorlton and Ryan Clemens both finished with two goals and Ben Zaccardi and Wyatt Vieth with one each.

Hastings also had a game Wednesday at home against Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids where they won a nail biter of a game 119 and then they fell to Mahtomedi on May 6, 49.

The next time to catch the boys in action is at Rosemount on May 12and then at home on May 18 against St. Thomas Academy. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:00.