Rosemount returns from layoff with 12-0 rout

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After finishing up a 5-2 win against Apple Valley on Nov. 21, the Rosemount girls hockey team faced a stretch of nine days without games.

The break allowed the Irish to contemplate an inconsistent beginning of the season in which they went 2-1-1. The holiday offered a bit of rest as well.

Rosemount took full advantage of the break and showed no rust when they returned.

“We had a couple of days off practice,” Irish coach Tracy Cassano said. “I think just having so many days in between games, you get hungry and you’re ready to get out there again. All the players were talking about how they couldn’t wait to get out and play. I think the break re-motivated and rejuvenated them.”

Before the rest, Cassano preached about playing a complete game, working hard through all three periods.

Rosemount started so strong on Tuesday it might not have needed to keep the pace going all the way through, but Cassano was pleased to see a full effort. The Irish scored five goals in the first period and seven in the second en route to a 12-0 victory against Bloomington Kennedy on Tuesday.

“The thing that I liked most out of the game was that we dictated play,” Cassano said. “We set the tone right from the beginning and played solid through three periods. It was a confidence boost as far as people putting the puck in the net and hopefully it leads to good things going forward.”

Allison Micheletti had five goals and an assist in the win.

“The goals were great, but more so than the goals I felt like she really stood out and dominated the play,” Cassano said. “She worked well with her linemates. She played well defensively. She back-checked and took the puck out of our own end. She really did everything well last night and it was nice to see her rewarded for her hard work.”

Rachael Kelly had three goals and two assists.

Amanda Comstock, Hannah Esselman, Allison Warweg, and Rachel Vath also scored. Taylor Sampson had two assists, while Caitlin Dantzscher made 17 saves for the shutout.

Life in the Lake Conference is tricky, and the Irish know similar outcomes won’t happen very often. In the meantime, Rosemount will try to take anything it can from the victory.

“We just look at it as a confidence builder for us,” Cassano said. “The players know. We take it one game at a time and we want to keep practicing well and competing on the ice.

“We want to use last night as a building block; work on having confidence, get back in game mode. We’re all aware how tough the games are coming up and we are focusing on tomorrow.”

Tags: girls hockey, sports