![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![French teacher Marieme Toure serves a plate of the Senegalese food she prepared for her AP French Language and Culture class, to senior Faiza Syed. “I never had Senegalese food before,” Syed said. “I thought it was so cool that she was able to bring a part of her culture [and] background to us.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0798-1200x906.jpeg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
On Friday, Dec. 6, the Rock Ridge Phoenix/Heritage Pride ice hockey team battled the Potomac Falls Panthers/Dominion Titans in a thrilling face-off. The Panthers/Titans started off strong, putting two pucks in the net and ending the first period 2-0. This was in part due to two unsuccessful penalty kill attempts. The Panthers/Titans were able to capitalize on two early penalties taken by Phoenix/Pride players.
The Phoenix/Pride came swinging into the second period scoring 11 seconds into their first power play of the night. Freshman forward Mason Mueller, assisted by freshman Max Vohralik and junior Malcom Mckee, scored his first of three. “[I was just thinking] let’s keep rolling,” Mueller said. “We have to get another one since they popped a few in.”
Though the Phoenix/Pride were able to fight off two penalty kills in the latter half of the second, the period ended with the Phoenix/Pride down 4-2. “I think we were pretty sloppy [overall] in the defensive zone,” Mueller said. “They had some bounces to their game but we aren’t going to battle with the refs. Whatever happens, happens.”
In the third, the Phoenix/Pride fought to battle back from their goal deficit and drew three penalties from their opponents. Despite a hard effort, the Phoenix/Pride were unable to recover and ended with a 4-5 loss. “We definitely underestimated them and [it showed in the game],” senior defenseman John Lunn said.
The team chose to focus not on the final score, but rather on taking the mistakes they made from this game and making corrections as they near the halfway point of their season. With talent from the younger players coming in, the team is in higher spirits than in years past. “We got some more talent with the new kids coming in,” Lunn said.
The Phoenix/Pride will next play Woodgrove/Loudoun Valley on Dec. 13 at 8:30 at ION Arena.
