Girls Hockey: Lake Forest looking to crank up its offense
By bob Gosman Contributor February 21, 2012 9:56PM
Lake Forest's Bridget Roche (No. 10) passes the puck in the offensive zone Saturday's game gainst Naper Valley. Lake Forest shut out Naper Valley 5-0. | Michael Jarecki ~ for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:43AM
Jessica Gould, a senior on the Lake Forest High School girls hockey team, can play anywhere on the ice save for goaltender.
She’s currently playing forward for the Scouts and defense for her club team. Does she mind being bounced back and forth?
“I kind of like it actually,” she said. “Everyone has a favorite position, but for me it’s not that big a deal. I’ll play wherever the team needs me.”
Gould and the Scouts are playing in the Scholastic Cup right now but their ultimate focus is the Blackhawk Cup in March. This is the playoffs that determine the state title and the Scouts are the defending champions. They have secured the No. 2 overall seed.
Each year, the tournament is played at the United Center downtown.
“The United Center is our goal the entire year,” she said. “For the seniors especially, it’s a pretty important goal. We’re all working to make that happen again.”
For Lake Forest to realize its goal, it will need to put more pucks in the net. Of late, the Scouts are struggling to generate quality scoring opportunities and then converting once they are created.
“We definitely need to get more quality shots on net,” Gould said.
Lake Forest is experimenting with different lineups and combinations to make that happen.
“We had a lot of incoming freshmen this year and they’re adjusting really well,” Gould said.
Even with the offensive struggles, Lake Forest still sports an impressive 21-7-4 record (through Sunday). The biggest reason for that has been stellar play on defense.
“Our defense is really strong,” Gould said.
Tough in goal: It’s a good thing for Lake Forest that freshman goaltender Lindsay Projansky was ready to play right away. Other than Projansky, the roster is bereft of goalies.
“She’s been great,” Gould said. “She’s good at covering the rebounds and knows when to play the puck and when to freeze it. She’s played really strong.”
When Projansky first started playing, she was attracted to goalie for what at the time seemed like a perfectly logical reason.
“When I watched on TV the goalies looked cool with their pads,” she said. “I started to play goalie and I never stopped. It’s fun.”
She enjoys the challenge of the position and appreciates the way the Scouts have welcomed her to the team.
“There are so many great people to be around,” Projansky said. “It’s fun to step into a big position.”
Recap: The Scouts rallied for a 1-1 tie Sunday against New Trier in a Scholastic Cup playoff game. New Trier went up 1-0 on a power play goal, but Anna Bleck tied the game on a breakaway goal, beating two defenders.
Remarkably, the Scouts withstood four power plays in the third quarter alone. Projansky had seven saves in that period.
The night before they defeated Naper Valley 5-0. Bridge Roche scored twice and Haley Conroy, Bleck and Gould also tallied. Conroy and Chandler Scoco had the assists.
On the schedule: The Scholastic Cup continues this week with the Blackhawk Cup set to start in March.
“We’re trying to get everything ready for when it really matters,” Gould said.
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