Photo Gallery: Apple Valley vs Rosemount
The Rosemount girls' hockey team finished 9-8 last season, losing in the semifinals of the Class 2A, Section 3 playoffs.
One season after finishing just one game over the .500 mark, the Irish's season outlook is much different.
Rosemount improved to 8-1 with a 10-7 win at home versus Apple Valley, pushing them to what head coach Andrew Conboy said has broken a school record for a start to a season.
Having a varsity roster with 10 seniors and five juniors has helped Rosemount. But the players have pointed to more than just experience for why they have started strong.
"I honestly think it has just been our energy, like our overall environment has been super positive - encouraging everybody, getting super excited when we score in practice," said senior Joey Edgar, who scored four goals in Thursday's win. "And playing really well together, I definitely think it has translated to the ice."
The eight-win start has improved Rosemount to No. 5 in this week's Class 2A state rankings, according to Let's Play Hockey. Conboy credited improved goaltending in most games and familiarity as reasons for why the Irish have seen a rapid improvement at the start of 2021.
"Honestly, we have a great group of seniors and juniors that have been together forever," Conboy said. "The goal before the season was to win the conference and go to state, win the section."
Rosemount's lineup might be building some depth as the season continues. The offense is led by senior Whitney Tuttle, a Minnesota State University commit who has 13 goals in nine games this season. But Thursday's 10 goal outburst came with help from a line of Edgar, Koral Hadac and Anna Shandorf. Aside from Edgar's four goals, Hadac and Shandorf each tallied four points.
Edgar said the three had grown up playing on some of the same youth teams, and all three of their dads have coached hockey together as they grew up.
"We just kind of have a lot of good chemistry, and I think that is translating to the ice," Edgar said. "Especially as we get to the mid part of the season."
Rosemount has averaged nearly five goals per game this season, no doubt with some help from Thursday's 10 goals. The offense should help as the Irish enter the middle of the schedule filled with South Suburban Conference games.
"The girls are still kind of finding their roles, you know what I mean?" Conboy said. "We have girls that step up when our top line isn't rolling."
Thursday's heartbreaking loss for Apple Valley (4-4, 3-1) ended a three-game undefeated start to the conference schedule.
The Eagles have been driven by a potent offense, averaging more than four goals per game. With a young team of just three seniors and five juniors, head coach Don Erdall said one focus has been trying to bounce back from mistakes during games.
"No one cares how old you are when you play at 7 o'clock," Erdall said. "We can make jokes about our age and experience, but we're talented."