Boys hockey: Irish respond against North

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Following a disappointing loss at Prior Lake last week, Rosemount boys hockey coach Scott Macho challenged his team.

The Irish had lost seven games in a row, part of a busy stretch of games following a December break. Macho just wasn’t seeing the same effort from his squad he had seen earlier in the season. Rosemount also had some unexpected work in the following practices.

“We called them out in the locker room at Prior Lake,” Macho said. “We had a no-puck practice on Friday.”

Senior captain Mike Cossalter and junior Andy Gustafson got the message.

Cossalter tallied a hat trick, scoring each of the team’s goals, in a 3-2 win against Lakeville North on Saturday. Rosemount had lost 5-2 at home to Lakeville South and 6-1 at Prior Lake earlier in the week.

“(Cossalter) responded the way that leaders should,” Macho said. “He put the team on his shoulder and kept everybody excited and going at it at practice. Andy Gustafson and Mike Cossalter got them going at practice and we really responded well and got a win when we needed it.”

Three goals from Cossalter helped earn the victory, but the practice session might have been the most critical part of the week

“It was one of those gelling moments of a team,” Macho said.

Macho and the Irish hope the win can start a turnaround with 10 games remaining in the regular season.

“It’s definitely a momentum changer for us,” Macho said. “It helps to put your mind at ease, to know if we do our job and work as a team, good things can happen. I think we definitely needed that to refocus after the mistakes against Prior Lake.”

Cossalter scored once in the first period against Lakeville North and added two more tallies in the third.

Gustafson passed out two assists, while Ryan Anderson and Connor Langfield each had one assist.

Hank Fairchild made 41 saves in net for Rosemount (5-10, 2-6 South Suburban).

“It was a win we definitely needed,” Macho said. “Obviously, Cossalter with the hat trick, I will say as a captain and leader, he certainly responded well that game.”

Trevor Kolden scored in the loss at Prior Lake, with Anderson and Ryan Gould notching assists.

“Prior Lake was disappointing because that is a team we feel we should be competing with,” Macho said. “For some reason, as a team, we did not perform up to our level.”

Anderson scored two third-period goals against Lakeville South, but it was too late for a comeback. Gustafson, Langfield and Matt Foley had assists.

Rosemount plays at No. 11 Apple Valley tonight.

Tags: boys hockey, sports, rosemount, prep, irish