It took two laser-like shots to help send Moorhead to the Class AA semifinals.

Juniors Carter Randklev and Matt Herbranson burned a pair of wristers past Hill-Murray’s Jake Begley 38 seconds apart in the second period, giving the Spuds (23-3-3) a 3-1 lead that turned into a 4-2 victory over the Pioneers.

“Hats off to Moorhead,” Hill-Murray head coach Bill Lechner said after the game. “When they had their opening they finished. They had some nice shots on a good goalie.”

Begley, a Frank Brimsek award finalist, made 34 saves in the loss.

Randklev and Stetz’s shots were both rifled past Begley high on the blocker side, a similarity that Moorhead head coach Jon Ammerman says did not come from any previous scouting.

“The one thing I hope to do as a coach is give kids an opportunity to have fun and make plays,” Ammerman said. “You saw today that we have some creative players and some high-end guys.”

Those high-end guys continue a long tradition of Spuds that have traveled to St. Paul in search of a state championship, a journey that Ammerman made as a player and an experience he says resonates especially after Thursday’s win.

“My phone is going crazy right now with guys that I played with, reminiscing about our opportunity to play,” Ammerman said. 

Jacob Holtgrewe opened the scoring for the Spuds in the first period, a 1-0 lead that Hill-Murray (19-6-4) equalized on a goal by Joseph Quast early in the second.

Moorhead forward Jack Stetz said that although the Pioneers made it difficult, the goals Herbranson and Randklev scored gave the Spuds an extra burst.

“I think it kind of got us going,” Stetz said. “Every goal we got in the second period just gave us more energy,” Stetz added. “It didn’t stop, it just kept going.”

Stetz added the insurance goal with just 1:42 left in the second period to extend the Spuds’ lead to 4-2.

Moorhead will now face Lakeville South in Friday’s semifinal at 6 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center, while Hill-Murray takes on St. Thomas Academy at Mariucci Arena in the consolation round at 10 a.m.