Irish hang with Eagles, come up short, 4-3

• Headed up ice

Rosemount’s Jory Brueland brings the puck up the ice during last Thursday’s 4-3 loss to Apple Valley

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After the Rosemount boys hockey team earned an overtime win at Hastings last week, Irish coach Scott Macho expressed his desire that his team build off the close win and continue to build momentum.

Macho knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Up next was a home game against No. 19 Apple Valley.

Facing ranked teams isn’t exactly what the Irish needed at the time. Rosemount ended up losing 4-3 to Apple Valley.

However, even in a loss, the Irish can take some positives. They also believe they might have kept the momentum going.

“It was actually a very good game,” Macho said. “Take away some penalties in the second period and it could have been a great game.”

It’s a process of taking steps early this season. Taking steps against ranked teams can only intensify the positives.

“We’re just working on being disciplined in our play,” Macho said. “We need to stay disciplined, keep our hands down, keep our feet moving, stay off the penalty kill.”

Rosemount was missing one of its leading scorers for much of the game against Apple Valley.

Brady Loew, who scored the overtime game-winner against Hastings, left the game after an injury in the first period before returning later in the third.

“If we had him the entire game, maybe our guys up front don’t get tired and it could have been a different story,” Macho said. “But we battled well. I was proud of how we responded after they scored. Against Apple Valley, to battle back like that, is good for our program.”

Mike Cossalter stared the scoring in the first for Rosemount with an assist to Josh Loew. Jared Newman connected to make it a 2-0 lead for the Irish with Brady Loew and Andrew Anderson assisting on the play.

Apple Valley scored three in a row before Rosemount tied the game.

Josh Loew scored his first varsity goal with assists to Cossalter and Sam Bishop, but the Eagles finished the scoring late in the third.

Macho has alternated lines at times this season, and the loss of Loew added to the need to find an offensive spark.

“We’ve kind of mixed things up,” Macho said. “It was really neat to have that game where an upperclassman has to step out for a period and the young underclassmen contribute. They haven’t had a lot of ice time and they stepped up.”

Hank Fairchild made 35 saves for the Irish. He’s started each game in goal for Rosemount.

“Ideally on every team you find that hot goalie,” Macho said. “Ultimately, that’s the goal at the end of the year, you go with the hot goalie. (Justin) Frank was that guy come playoff time last year. Hank’s done well so far this year. He has done nothing to shatter the confidence we have in him. We feel we have two pretty good guys. It’s a friendly competition and they can keep pushing each other.”

Tags: boys hockey, sports