Size isn’t No. 2-ranked Rosemount’s strength. Neither is strength.

“We’re a pretty little team, but we have a lot of speed,” junior attackman Mason Hille said.

Ah, yes. Speed. The Irish are to most opponents what a finely tuned Ferrari is to a Yugo. Stopping them … well, there is no stopping them.

“We think that is the best offense we’ll see all year,” Eastview coach Tim Roche said after Rosemount’s 9-6 victory on Tuesday at Eastview High School in Apple Valley.

With senior twins Carter and Conner Yepsen held to a combined three goals, Rosemount (3-0) plugged into other outlets for scoring. Turns out the Irish have plenty of options when looking for alternate snipers.

“We spread it around,” Rosemount coach Lance Kuehn said. “It’s a family affair. Everyone gets a chance to score. Everyone knows about Conner and Carter, but when they are all staring at him Mason is at the back door on the feeding end of those (passes), and he can finish.”

Also a hockey player, Hille flashed quick hands and showed a knack for exploiting cracks in the Eastview defense when he scored twice in 26 seconds in the fourth quarter. His scoring flurry allowed the Irish to break open what had been a tight game through three quarters.

Hille then matched his two goals with two pancake hits, leveling Daniel Seline and Jacke McGlocklin in succession. No penalties were called on either play in a season in which rule changes were implemented to reduce violent collisions and flags have been commonplace as coaches and players adjust.

“Squaring up, hands together, just like we were taught,” Hille said about his hitting form.

As an attackman on a “little” team not known for its physical play, Hille’s Gordie Howe impersonation was something of a surprise. Not so much for Kuehn, though, who says he likes Hille’s physical style.

“Being a cross-sport athlete, he’s willing to get dirty, he’s willing to lay down the lumber on other guys, and he showed that night,” Kuehn said.


Rosemount goalie Shaun Skrbec makes the leaping save in a 9-6 Irish win at Eastivew. Photo by Rick Orndorf

First Report

No. 2-ranked Rosemount scored five unanswered goals -- including two from junior attackman Mason Hille -- spanning the final minute of the third quarter and most of the fourth as it eased past No. 8 Eastview 9-6 on Tuesday night in the South Suburban Conference matchup at Eastview High School in Apple Valley.

Eastview, runner-up at last year’s state tournament and champion in 2012, led 5-4 on a goal by Jacob Duehn, his second of the night, with 3 minutes, 44 seconds left in the third quarter.

Rosemount, which features what is easily one of the state’s most highly charged offenses, took over. A Carter Yepsen goal with 53 seconds left in the third quarter tied it at 5, and Rosemount (3-0) surged in front on a Trent Woodcock goal just 1:10 into the fourth quarter.

Hille scored his goals 26 seconds apart as the Irish surged to an 8-5 lead. A Garrick Swanson goal made it 9-5 with less than 3 minutes remaining.

Michael Stillings scored three goals for the Lightning as they fell to 0-2.

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