A step in the right direction

Talk about it

At this point in the season, the Rosemount boys hockey team will take any positives it can generate.

In a word, the season has been frustrating, a season no one could have expected at the beginning of the year. It’s been frustrating for different reasons at different times.

However, whether its been one-goal losses, blowout losses, or injuries, coach Scott Macho has praised his team for its continued effort.

Now, the hope is things might finally fall into place and the Irish can leave the season without a bitter taste in their mouths.

A 5-3 loss to Apple Valley at first glance might be one that would add to the misery. But Macho felt his team played better and Rosemount can appreciate a step in the right direction.

“It was a great game,” Macho said. “I think we played the best game we could with the guys we have in the lineup. We still have a couple of guys out. But I was pleased with how the kids battled back down 2-0, and they kept fighting.”

Apple Valley had a two-goal advantage in the first before Rosemount tied the game heading into the first intermission.

Andrew Anderson scored on an assist from Brady Loew and Sam Bishop found the back of the net on an assist from Cory Pederson.

It marked the first two-goal period for the Irish in six games.

The Eagles took another two-goal lead before Jake Leslie scored midway through the third with Loew and Mike Cossalter recording assists.

Apple Valley finished the scoring with an empty-netter with just over a minute remaining.

“We kind of broke it down to smaller parts that we wanted to work on,” Macho said. “We wanted to get 10 shots in the first period and we got 12. We’re looking at little goals as we go on.

“At this point in the season, with where our record is, it would have been easy for them to pack it up and mailed it in. They haven’t done that.”

And this week might have offered a bit of a breather for the Irish. They had a week off before they play at Eastview tomorrow, a perfect time take a mental break and possibly heal a few injuries. Rosemount hosts Bloomington Kennedy on Tuesday.

Tags: apple valley, sports, boys, hockey, rosemount