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Vail Valley preps: Huskies rock and sock Steamboat, 12-5

Chris Freud
Vail, CO Colorado
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EDWARDS – Everybody’s socks were rocked Friday, and that’s a good thing.

“She does rock my socks,” said Battle Mountain girls lacrosse goalie Amie Hixon with teammate Clare Baker by her side after the Huskies knocked off Steamboat Springs, 12-5, in Edwards.

Baker, indeed, rocked, putting up a hat trick, as did Rylee McMillin, and the Huskies got into double-digits in scoring for the first time this season.



‘It feels good,” Baker said. “We played hard. We deserved it.”

In a contest between two squads which are still in their nascent stages – Battle Mountain’s in its third year, while the Sailors are in their second – the win was most definitely nice. Equally as pleasing was that the young Huskies were able to play and increase their skills on a balmy un-spring-like day.

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“That was the best feeling in the world, just to see them get their spirits up,” Huskies coach Stacy Schapira said. “They do have the capability of beating someone. It was also their play. We’re finding ourselves on the field, positioning right. They’re trusting each other and that’s what makes a good team. Once you have that, the sky’s the limit.”

Battle Mountain used the width of the field well, linked up passes and was aggressive in front of the Sailors’ net. Yes, this is lacrosse 101, but remember that there was no club team for the Battle Mountain ladies before the sport went varsity in 2009. (This is not to take away from the Huskies boys’ spectacular season to date, but the gents were playing club before 2009, and it makes a huge difference.)

Another important building block for any budding lacrosse program is good goaltending. The Huskies have two in Ali Feeney and Hixon. Feeney got to play in the field Friday, while Hixon played between the pipes and she was solid, turning away more than 10 shots.

“You’ve got to be kind of insane, actually a lot insane,” Hixon joked about playing the position. “But I love it.”

Friday’s game also had a good spirit to it. Steamboat is much improved from last year and the Sailors showed some pop with a hat trick plus one from Aleigh Aurlin. The Huskies got contributions from up and down their young roster.

“It takes everyone, every single one of us,” Hixon said. “I think that everyone played today, but even if in other games some people don’t play, if it weren’t for them on the sidelines, we wouldn’t win.”

Karina Reyes scored her first two goals, while Maddi Conlin also ripped the net twice. Hannah McKeever and Haley Clarke also scored.

Next up for the Huskies is a road game at Aspen Tuesday.

“They’re going to be a challenge, but we’re up to a challenge,” Schapira said.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.


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