sports

CROOKSTON’S KAMEBELLE FREIJE STOPS 28 SHOTS TO LEAD CROOKSTON GIRL’S HOCKEY TO 2-0 WIN OVER #3 WARROAD

December 5, 2023

For the Crookston Pirate Girls’ Hockey team, it’s been a long drought against the Warroad Warriors! Crookston had not beaten Warroad for 16 years, which included 40 games, and most were by very lopsided scores. That all changed tonight at the Crookston Sports Center, with a charged crowd seeing Pirate goaltender Kamebelle Freije making 28 saves, many spectacular. She shut out the #3 ranked Warriors 2-0 with goals from Taylor Field and Brynley Coleman to make a statement about where the Pirates, once ranked #9 in the state, are at this early part of the season.

Crookston started the game much like they did last Saturday against Champlin Park/Coon Rapids, keeping the Warriors from entering the Pirates zone for sustained pressure. Warroad did get some momentum when the Pirates had an early penalty, and as they say, the goaltender is your best weapon on a penalty kill. “Kamebelle was up for this game right from the start,” said Crookston head coach Emily Meyer, “she was solid, either not giving up rebounds or deflection off to the corners or side.” Crookston had some good chances, a point-blank shot from Emma LaPlante in the high slot, and eighth grader Jocelyen Field worked her way into the Warroad end, snapped a shot from the left circle, and grazed the crossbar. Crookston seemed to get more traffic in the slot areas and either couldn’t get a stick on the puck or shot wide of the Warriors net, which was protected nicely by goalie Payton Rolli. “We did have some good chances in the period,” said Meyer, “Jocelyen just missed scoring hitting the crossbar. She came to the bench after and said she was determined to score one tonight. Overall, we were happy with our play in the first period, and the girls were building confidence.”

Crookston started the second period with 1:15 left of a power play from the first period. They were out of sync with the man advantage and got no shots on goal. Warroad took over the second period with many offensive possessions in the Crookston zone. About nine minutes into the period, Warroad’s Kaiya Sandy managed to get loose, was alone on a breakaway, and tried to deke Freije. Still, the Pirate goaltender didn’t buy it and went across the crease to stuff Sandy and her bid to open the scoring. With just under two and a half minutes left in the period, Warroad had an apparent goal when sophomore Taylor Reese tipped a shot from Reagan Haley past Freije. After a conference by the three officials, they ruled that Reese tipped the shot with her stick over four feet in the air or even with the crossbar and waved it off. It could have been a significant turnaround in the game, but it was still 0-0.
Crookston finally got their only shot on goal with minutes left in the period and were outshot 13-1 in the second period. “It was a little hectic in the second period,” said Meyer, “we relied on Kamebelle, and she kept us in it for sure in the second period.”

Crookston has needed help getting players in front of the net, looking for rebound goals, screening the goalie, and making it hard for opposing goalies. The Pirates did some screening, and Crookston sophomore Taylor Field was in the left circle and blasted a shot to the far side of the Warroad net, top shelf, and past Rollie’s glove in the left corner. “I kind of got it off the wall and going into the high slot, and I saw Morgan (Nelson) there, and honestly, I was going for a tip,” said Field, “I shot that puck with Morgan there screening it, and it was perfect, just like we work on in practice. With Addie (Fee) and Morgan, I’m so grateful to play with them as they are great linemates, and I think we’ve started to connect this last week as a line and as a team.” Field’s goal indeed fired up the Crookston crowd and the team. “That goal got us going, cleaning up the mistakes from the second period,” said Meyer.
Much of Crookston’s problems in the game came from two Warroad defensemen, Katy Comstock and Jaylie French. They probably played 70% of the first and second period, and without a stopwatch, they hardly left in the ice in the third period. Both controlled the blue line, making it challenging for Crookston to get the puck out of their own end and the same thing on the other end, making plays in the Crookston zone and created many opportunities with their skating, speed, and high-level hockey IQ’s!
With the one-goal lead, Crookston had a couple of power play opportunities, and coming into the game, they were scoring at a 27% clip, but despite some good chances, they could not widen their lead. Crookston had a penalty with five and a half minutes to go but could skate it off. With about two and a half minutes left in the game, Warroad pulled Rolli, their goalie, for an extra person, and things became very interesting. The crowd was standing, the adrenaline was flowing in all the players. Crookston had a chance with the open net when Kaylie Clauson slid a puck from her end just a couple of feet to the left. A minute later, Pirate senior captain Brynley Coleman, in her zone, grabbed a loose puck, spun around, and whistled one down the ice. It hit the back of the net with 1:16 left in the game to give Crookston a 2-0 cushion, and the team went wild, as did the fans, who could taste a huge Section 8A win coming! “When we called our timeout with a minute and a half left,” said Meyer, “in the huddle, Brynley was the one that said we have to finish this with an open net and then comes out and shoots the puck right on the money to give us a huge win against a very good team.”

16 years of losing to Warroad ended tonight for the Pirates, behind their goalie’s best game of her high school career. “This is what we set out to do today,” said Meyer, “everybody came in and wanted it so badly, and we came out with a swagger, setting the tone right away, and Warroad came out in the second and held us to one shot. We did an amazing job cleaning it up in the last period to win it.”
Biggest win as a high school coach in her third year? “Yes, the biggest win in my whole career,” said Meyer, “we never beat Warroad when I was playing in high school, lost one in overtime, but couldn’t do it, so this team did exactly what I dreamed of doing. It’s amazing. I’m super lucky to be here, and this group makes it easy, that’s for sure.”

Crookston is 4-2-1 on the season and will travel to the Iron Range this weekend to play at Virginia on Friday against Rock Ridge and then Saturday afternoon for a section contest at International Falls.
Warroad is now 5-2 on the year and will play at Mound-Westonka on Friday night. Mound-Westonka is coached by former Warrior Larry Olimb. Saturday afternoon, Warroad plays at Rockford.
JV – Warroad won 12-0

Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey vs Warroad (12-5-23)