CHAZY — The Beekmantown girls hockey team continued its strong season this weekend winning two contests to improve their winning streak to 13 games.
If you haven’t been to a home game for the Lady Eagles, senior and team captain Janna Ruest offered her thoughts on Chazy’s Scott’s Memorial Rink.
“It’s great,” she said. “It’s not the best rink for spectators, of course. But, it’s really close to our hearts.”
“Especially for me, as I’ve played here for six years. It’s just an old lovable barn.”
Beekmantown hosted Potsdam on Friday, before traveling to face Missisquoi (VT), Saturday.
While both games were close, the Eagles stayed strong and improved to 14-1 on the year. Their only loss came to Adirondack United in their second game of the season.
Beekmantown will get a chance at revenge, Feb. 2 when the United travel to play in Chazy.
But, if you ask head coach Al Ruest, this year is a special team. It’s just the second year of the merger as girls from across the North Country converge on Scott’s Memorial Rink to make the Beekmantown squad.
“They’re a great team, they’re working well together,” he said. “Last year, we merged with Plattsburgh and we didn’t quite meld. We started 0-6 and later in the season we went 10-3.
“But this year, we’re really gelling and the girls are getting along. And we’re really, really pleased as well as a team.”
FRIDAY
BEEKMANTOWN 4
POTSDAM 2
It was a tight contest early before the Eagles got the chance to open it up in the second period.
But it started with the teams exchanging early goals in the first, as Beekmantown scored first when Meegan Burdo got it past the Potsdam keeper.
Well the girls started out slow,” Al Ruest said. “I thought in the first two periods we were fighting the puck a little bit. We weren’t taking it down the wing like we’re good at. We just needed to get our feet under us and let the game come to us.”
Ruest knew what he was talking about as Lily Pratt orchestrated the third goal to perfection.
Pratt skated down the right side forcing the keeper to move to the side. At the last moment she flicked the puck to teammate Katie McCormick who sent it into the net to grab the insurance goal, which they needed.
Pratt was so excited about the goal that she threw her arms up in the air, skated towards McCormick and tackled her in celebration. The pair would get up and celebrate with the rest of their teammates before the game resumed.
“Lily took it out wide just like we asked them to do it, and her partner Katie McCormick went to the net like she’s supposed to,” Al Ruest said. “It was a nice saucer pass from Lilly and Katie capitalized on it. We were able to bury it which was nice.”
Pratt’s second assist on the night sandwiched the second goal of the game. The goal that first gave Beekmantown the lead was a connection between Janna Ruest and Kylee Suprenant.
Suprenant brought the puck up and found Ruest on the wing who was able to rocket the puck past the keeper in the eighth minute of the second period.
Minutes later McCormick and Pratt teamed up for their goal, and the rest as they say was history.
Potsdam would add a goal late in the second period to cut it to one, but couldn’t find any more success against keeper Kori-Lynne Lamoy.
Pratt finished the day with three assists, as she and Burdo connected again in the third period to put the game out of reach.
The Sandstoners emptied their net in the final minutes and it looked as if the Eagles would add a fifth goal. But, Potsdam players blocked numerous shots with bodies and sticks to keep the score at 4-2.
SATURDAY
BEEKMANTOWN 1
MISSISQUOI (VT) 0
MISSISQUOI — It would be a quick turnaround for the Eagles as they traveled to face Missisquoi, Saturday.
It wouldn’t be until a late power play goal in the third period by Amaya Abellard that Beekmantown would grab and hold onto the lead for good.
Al Ruest made sure to heap praise on his goalkeeper, Bailey Barnett, who stopped all the shots she faced.
“Bailey Barnetts exceptional play today helped us secure the win,” he said. “Our special team play was strong tonight but we took way too many penalties.
“Our focus for the future will be playing a more disciplined game.”
Janna Ruest said it’s not just discipline the team needs to work on.
“I think we just need to be more confident within ourselves and move our feet,” she said. “We have so much speed and we just don’t use it.”
—
FRIDAY
Beekmantown 4, Potsdam 2
BCS;1;2;1;-;4
PCS;1;1;0;-;2
First Period- 1, BCS, Burdo (Pratt), 3:47. 2, PCS, DiMarco (McGregor), 8:02.
Second Period- 3, BCS, Ruest (Suprenant), 7:48. 4, BCS, McCormick (Pratt), 13:16. 5, PCS, Emerson PP (Rossner), 14:35.
Third Period- 6, BCS, Burdo (Pratt), 7:06.
Shots on goal- Beekmantown, 23-18
Saves- Lamoy, BCS, 16. Tessier, PCS, 19
SATURDAY
Beekmantown 1, Missisquoi (VT), 0
BCS;0;0;1;-;1
MIS;0;0;0;-;0
Third Period- 1, BCS, Abellard PP (Ruest), 11:03.
Shots on goal- Beekmantown, 30-25
Saves- Barnett, BCS, 25. Lapan, MIS, 29.