The narrow margins of victory this season may not be the sole reason why Apple Valley girls hockey Head Coach Don Erdall doesn't have much hair on top of his head, but it's a contributing factor. 

"There's a reason I'm bald," Erdall said on Tuesday night after his Eagles edged Rosemount 5-3, their eighth win in 10 games by two goals or less. 

"Since taking over at Apple Valley, we know that we're rarely, if ever, going to be the more talented team on the ice," Erdall said, explaining his team's penchant for close games. "So what we buy into, is that we're gonna defend because defense never quits and defense shows up every single day."

Tuesday's game required a variation on the Eagles' usual show-up defense, with senior forward Brooke Kierzek being asked to center a different line than usual. 

"We had to juggle the lines a little bit," Erdall said, adding that the switch was made because a player was out with an illness. "I think Brooke took it on her shoulders to lead that line."

That line included freshmen Mazy Ryan and Faith Dougan, and Kierzek powered the trio to a productive night, scoring two goals and adding an assist. The goals were Kierzek's first and second tallies of the season, coming less than two minutes apart in the third period to put the Eagles ahead 5-3.  

Typically, Apple Valley's offense has come primarily from its top line. The Moran sisters, Mandy, Makayla, and Marie had combined to score 15 of the team's 25 goals going into Tuesday night's game. 

"Lily (Leong) had sixteen goals last year, Brooke had eight or ten, and they haven't (exploded offensively) yet, so I'm just thinking (about) what's going to happen when they do start producing," Erdall said. "If we can get all of them going, and Jade Ford, we're in a good spot."

In addition to Kierzek's goals, Grace Lankas, Kailee Hoff, and Molly Mueller scored for the Eagles (9-1, 6-0). Ashley Tuttle, Joey Edgar, and Whitney Tuttle marked the score column for the Irish (5-4, 4-3). 

While the Eagles are finding their wings on offense, senior goaltender Keni Allen has done more than simply hold down the fort defensively. Allen has played every minute this season for the Eagles and stopped 35 of 38 shots in Tuesday's win.

"Keni's been outstanding this year," Erdall said. "Numbers-wise, she's great, but it's (having) the consistency game in and game out."

After Tuesday's win, Allen has a record of 9-1, a goals-against-average of 1.48, and a save percentage of .943. All three marks are among the state's best. Allen also brings a certain amount of lightheartedness to the ice and the Eagles' dressing room.  

"She'll be the first to admit that she's the goofiest one on the team," Erdall said. "We've embraced the Keni-isms." 

Among the "Keni-isms" includes an instance from last year's Class 2A, Section 3 game against Eastview. A Lightning parent along the glass had a habit of raising both arms in disbelief after Allen denied scoring chances. So Allen played along, acting out the moves to The Village People's "YMCA."

Erdall and the coaching staff can't help but grin and shake their collective head at Allen's antics. 

"At first, we would kinda worry about her," Erdall said with a small chuckle. "You just deal with it. She's been our number one for three years."

Allen will get her best shot at postseason glory in her three years as the Apple Valley starter this year, with the Eagles currently at the top of the South Suburban Conference standings and Section 3-2A wide open this season. 

Erdall has a hunch that the Irish could be one of the Eagles' adversaries come playoff time. 

"I hope that we're playing on February twelfth, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are too," Erdall said, referring to the date of the Section 3-2A finals. 

"They've got a good crew over there."