Freeport finds depth between the pipes
BUFFALO TWP — Freeport hockey team’s goaltending situation was iffy at best before the season opened in October.
The returning starter, senior Matt Huston, wasn’t sure he could find a balance to make the schedule work.
That thrust senior Katie Hill — who didn’t have much varsity experience — into the role.
Huston did decide to return at the start of the season and gives the Yellowjackets, who are off to an 8-3 start, depth at the position.
“Goaltending has been part of our strong start,” Freeport coach Mel Reichenbaugh said. “It’s between goaltending and our offense I would say. On defense we’ve been injured a lot and we’re scrambling a little bit.”
Four different goalies have made starts for the Yellowjackets, including Morgan Penn and Gregory Smith, who both have one win.
Freeport has allowed 47 goals this season, an average of 4.7 per game.
The Yellowjackets, who are in third place in the Eastern Conference, have balanced that out by scoring 73 goals.
Hill is 4-2 with a .856 save percentage and a 4.50 goals against average.
Her relationship with Huston is an important one.
“We do give each other advice and everything, usually he’s the one giving me advice,” said Hill, who plays club hockey for the U19 Steel City Selects. “He just helps me keep calm in net and if I have a bad period he’s there to calm me down.”
Going from playing club hockey against girls to playing against guys can sometimes take some adjusting for Hill.
The difference comes from before the puck drops.
“In warmups, it’s already a big difference going from team to team,” Hill said. “Boys shoot a lot harder and higher and are more accurate.”
Coming back was a matter of finding enough time in the day for Huston.
Along with playing for the Pittsburgh Selects AAA team, Huston is taking advanced physics, human anatomy and physiology in addition to college in high school calculus.
“Time management has been a big thing this season,” said Huston, who is 2-1 with a 4.67 GAA. “My classes were much more rigourous than in years prior. I plan around that and have specific time slots. I say I have this much time to get something done and if I can’t get it done in that time period I move on to the next thing.”
Huston, who has a 4.0 GPA, wants to attend Case Western and pursue a career in medicine. He’s also been accepted by Weselyan (Conn.) University, Washington & Jefferson College and St. Vincent College.
He decided to come back after talking with Michael Frazetta, who came back late due to golf season.
With Quaker Valley and Mars moving up to Class AA, the Yellowjackets felt like they could make a deep playoff run.
“We felt like we owed it to the boys and the rest of the team to win the Pens Cup,” Huston said.
