Senior Lauren Topor has seen plenty of pucks fly her way throughout her career. She is in her fourth season as the starting goaltender for the Rosemount girls’ hockey team.
The Irish have lost their first four games of the season, but that hasn’t stopped Topor from being solid between the pipes. In the season opener, Topor made 59 saves before Burnsville pulled out a 4-3 overtime victory over Rosemount in a South Suburban Conference matchup.
The previous three seasons, Rosemount has accumulated a 17-57-2 record. Topor recorded three shutouts during that span.
Here is a closer look at Topor, who also plays lacrosse for the Irish:
Q What is the best movie you’ve seen in the last year?
A “The Fault in Our Stars.”
Q Three words my friends or teammates might use to describe me
are …
A … quiet, studious, and dedicated.
Q Three songs I never skip on my iPod are …
A … “Anything But Mine” by Kenny Chesney; “Watching You Watch Him” by Eric Hutchinson; and “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United.
Q What are your three favorite apps?
A Instagram, Twitter, and ESPN Fantasy Hockey.
Q Who do you like to follow the most on Twitter, and why?
A The Pittsburgh Penguins. Most of their games don’t get broadcast in Minnesota, so their Twitter [account] keeps me up to date.
Q How did you get started playing hockey?
A When I was little, I always asked my parents if I could play hockey, but they would always say “No, that’s a boys’ sport.” After a few years of begging, they finally let me try out in fifth grade and I haven’t stopped since.
Q At my first varsity practice, I felt …
A … nervous, but confident and excited for the great opportunity I had.
Q What did you work on most before the start of the season?
A Moving around the crease faster and controlling my rebounds.
Q What are your goals for the
2014-15 season?
A I hope to flip our record around and surprise teams. I want to show everyone that just because we didn’t have the best season last year doesn’t mean we can’t bounce back this year and compete. [The Irish finished with an overall record of 1-25 a year ago.]
Q To get focused for a game, I …
A … stretch out at home and eat my pregame meal [Subway]. When I get to the rink, I listen to my gameday play list, warm up with the team, pray and watch my Marc-Andre Fleury highlight video. [Fleury is the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender.]
Q What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?
A Getting my first varsity
shutout 2-0 over Spring Lake Park/
St. Anthony my sophomore year.
Q How do you balance school and sports during the year?
A I try to get all my homework done before games, and if I don’t, I work on it when I get home. I also try to have a study hall during hockey season, so I can get my homework done then.
Q Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?
A Surfing. It’s so much fun and I love to be in the ocean. The only problem is we don’t really live in the right climate.
Q What is the best sports advice you ever received?
A It’s OK to lose, but you can never get comfortable with it.
RON HAGGSTROM