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Saint Ignatius Defeats Northview, Heads to Saturday’s State Final

By Kyle Kelly, 03/08/19, 7:00PM EST

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Wildcats will go after fourth straight title

COLUMBUS --- Four goals in a matter of six minutes would be the key to success for the St. Ignatius Wildcats in a 7-0 win over Sylvania Northview in the late state semifinal game Friday. Saint Ignatius had five players record two points or more in the game.

A fast start was essential to head coach Pat O’Rourke of Saint Ignatius. “It was really important. It was nice to get up on top,” he said. “It was nice to test their goalie a little bit. We have not seen him play this year so we wanted to see what he was all about. It kind of helps you settle your nerves a little bit in a game like this.”

Saint Ignatius will enter their seventh state title game as they take on Dublin Jerome at 11:00 a.m. Saturday.  They have never lost a state championship game (6-0) and are looking to claim their fourth consecutive.

“I couldn't care less about that right now. This is this year. We are trying to win this year’s title with a different group of people. We talked about that before this game. None of the previous guys are here. Jerome does not care about, we don't care about it. We are trying to win one more game. I want this for this group of kids,” said O’Rourke.

“There are guys that weren’t here last year others that were here, some played some didn't. It is a totally different group. We have less than 24 hours to work at this so we are going to come out, play fast, and play fun.”

Early in the match, Saint Ignatius’ experience playing in Columbus was on display for the roughly 1,300-member crowd on hand at Nationwide Arena. Junior Cam Kurtz contributed to a fast St. Ignatius start by starting and closing a 4-0 first period for the Blue and Gold.

Kurtz scored 4:09 into the game on an assist from fellow juniors Michael Boehm and Greg Langermeier, setting Saint Ignatius up for an offensive day of hockey. “My fellow teammate Michael Boehm took the puck up the ice with a lot of speed. I kind of slid in behind him and he dropped it to me and I had a lot of space. I tried to put it on net and it went in,” said Kurtz on the first goal.

Boehm and fellow classmate Joey Trobenter would also assist on the second goal, scored by junior Alex Bilardo scored with 6:46 remaining in the first period.

Trobenter has become one of Ignatius’ most talented passers down the stretch. “It is a big part -- assisting goals, It has always been a part of my game, dishing the puck out to my teammates. I have great teammates to bury the puck. Credit to them.”

Just 29 seconds later sophomore Erik Galauner scored goal number three, on an assist from junior Aidan Millett. Kurtz’s goal that ended a four-goal period was also assisted on by Millett.

In the second period, Saint Ignatius nearly erased their lead by paving the way to two penalties, setting Northview up with over four minutes of power play time. Despite the advantage, Northview was only able to fire off one shot. In total, Northview compiled four of their 11 shots in the second stanza.

Northview head coach Steve Elliott felt it was their best opportunity to cash in a goal. “The net front presence and burying pucks off of rebounds is something that was not a strength of ours over the year,” said Elliott. “We had a lot of pucks laying around. We were unable to find them. We did not have a lot of shots but there were a couple that were there that maybe if we could have buried one, we could have gained some momentum.”

Saint Ignatius would receive an opportunity on the power play themselves, capitalizing with a goal from Billardo with 2:45 remaining in the second period.

As the third period rolled around, Saint Ignatius presented a firm 5-0 lead. They went on to add two insurance goals, the last one being shorthanded by senior Patrick Eppich.

Northview totaled five shots on goal in the third period but could not sneak one by senior goalie Benny Savarino, as the Ignatius goaltender recorded an 11-save shutout.

“He is hugely important. He is an awesome goalie. They had a chance to get back into it after the second period, they had a few power plays,” said O’Rourke. “They have some guys who can fire the puck. For him to keep at zero until we got a feel for them, he was looking pretty good. If every game he puts up a zero, we are going to do okay.”

Junior Justin Beaverson and senior Justin Baden each had three shot attempts on Savarino. Northview sophomore goaltender Tyler Clem made 21 saves in the outing.

Although a 7-0 loss was disappointing, Elliott was proud of his player’s performance. “That is not the start that you want. As they have done all year long there was zero quit and I knew they would play all the way to the final horn,” he said. “There were probably a little nerves that have been here three and four years in a row. They are a bit more acclimated to the environment and surroundings. It is tough to play from behind on a team like that.”

The Wildcats of Saint Ignatius have now won their last two games by a combined score of 13-0. If they beat Dublin Jerome tomorrow, they would become the first ever team to win four consecutive state titles. That game will be in less than 24 hours.

“We watched all the semifinal teams and scouted Jerome. We have done this before with a quick turnover,” said O’Rourke.

A quick turnover, indeed.

 

--- Kyle Kelly for Ohio Hockey Digest