BROOKLYN, Ohio — Expectations are just what you get when St. Ignatius and University School face off in hockey. That proved the case once again Wednesday when the Wildcats and Preppers met in a late-afternoon game at the Coyne Recreation Center in Brooklyn. The defending state champion Wildcats got the win, 2-1, and as usual it was by that...
BROOKLYN, Ohio — Expectations are just what you get when St. Ignatius and University School face off in hockey.
That proved the case once again Wednesday when the Wildcats and Preppers met in a late-afternoon game at the Coyne Recreation Center in Brooklyn. The defending state champion Wildcats got the win, 2-1, and as usual it was by that slimmest of margins.
Seven of their past eight meetings have been decided by a goal, so it was no stretch that St. Ignatius coach Pat O'Rourke predicted a 2-1 game to University counterpart Bill Beard
"I wanted to go to Las Vegas the way he picked that one," said Beard, whose club now holds a 4-3 edge in one-goal games against its rival since the 2008 season. "It's a fragile thing. It's always that slim."
The only game that wasn't in the series was the Wildcats' surprising 5-1 victory last March in the state semifinals. Obviously, this one did not compare
The Wildcats got on the board after less than three minutes of play when junior Liam Geither scored off his own rebound during a scramble in front of the net. The Wildcats got their next goal when sophomore Mike Avdey slammed one past junior goalkeeper Sam Althans from the top of the circle after junior Taylor Wolf fed him off the faceoff five minutes into the second period.
"He won it back to me off a perfect draw," said Avdey, who was getting his first experience in the rivalry. "I made sure I got it off square."
But the Wildcats were in no way home free.
With Althans holding the fort, the Preppers mounted intense pressure against St. Ignatius senior goalkeeper Josh Potts. They finally broke through when Jack Linderman converted on a high drive past Potts with 5:38 to play.
The Preppers had the Wildcats on their heels the rest of way, but could not get the equalizer as Potts came up with numerous big saves with both glove and stick. The Preppers outshot the Wildcats, 14-2, in the final period and 28-18 overall.
"We knew it was going to be about one or two goals," said Potts. "The only time it wasn't was back at state."
It was a well-played game, with all three penalties coming in the first period. The Preppers' defense did a nice job of clamping down on the Wildcats' scoring duo of sophomore Miles McQuinn [21 goals] and junior Pat Spellacy [17 goals].
"They play an up-tempo game like us," said University senior captain Ian Robertson, who has been on the ice the past four seasons. "It's always a great game and a lot of fun. There is no reason to hang your head."
The Wildcats stand 4-0 in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League's Red North Division and 12-3 overall. The Preppers are 2-2 in the division, 3-6-3 overall.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168