CHAMPLIN, Minn. -- Bo Gronseth and Scott Wasbotten scored goals 33 seconds apart in the second period and goaltender Adam Smith kept up his scoreless playoff streak as Hermantown moved closer to its fourth consecutive Section 5A boys hockey title by taking a 3-0 lead over St. Cloud Cathedral through two periods tonight at the Champlin Ice Forum.
Gronseth, a senior winger, notched his second of the night and 26th of the season when he batted in a loose puck to goaltender Joshua Robak's stick side at the 7:59 mark.
Wasbotten struck on the following shift to make it 3-0, putting the third-ranked Hawks in position of reaching the Class A high school state tournament for the sixth time in eight years and 10th overall.
Gronseth flipped in a backhand shot for the only goal of the first period. Gronseth's linemate, Chris Benson, had an excellent scoring chance earlier in the period but his breakaway attempt was stopped by Robak.
Smith, who didn't play in the Crusaders' 5-4 overtime win earlier this season and entered the contest with a 14-0-1 record, has stopped all 18 shots he's faced. He posted shutouts over Proctor and Rogers earlier in the playoffs.
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The winner advances to the quarterfinal round Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
