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Sports At A Glance
By Warren Mayes
Boys’ high school basketball
Sectionals Parkway West and Chaminade stayed alive while Lafayette saw its boys’ basketball season end in sectional play. Parkway West handily topped Poplar Bluff 68-43 at Farmington while Chaminade ousted Kirkwood 79-66 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The two schools were scheduled to meet in the quarterfinals at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Chaminade, champions of the Metro Catholic Conference, improved to 24-4 while Parkway West, second in the Suburban South, hiked its record to 23-6. Lafayette went down in a 69-60 loss to Hazelwood Central at Northwest High. The Lancers end the season with a 19-9 record. *** Districts Parkway West, Chaminade and Lafayette won district titles among local boys’ teams. Parkway West won the Class 5, District 2 title at Parkway North with a 53-36 victory over Marquette. It was Parkway West's first district title since 2002 for Coach Bill Sodemann, who has coached four district title winners – 1991 (state champion), 2001 and 2002. The top-seeded Longhorns bested Francis Howell North 61-37 in the semi-finals. Marquette, seeded third, opened district play with a 53-42 win over Parkway Central before upsetting the No. 2-seeded Parkway North Vikings 43-37. Parkway West improved to 22-6 with the win. Marquette finished with a 7-19 record. Parkway Central ended its season with a 3-23 record. Parkway North concluded its year with a 10-16 record. Chaminade defeated CBC 64-46 to win the Class 5, District 4 championship at Ritenour. It was the third victory for the Red Devils over the Cadets this season. In the semi-finals, top-seeded Chaminade thumped No. 4 DeSmet 48-28 while No. 2-seeded CBC whipped No. 3 Ritenour 76-50. It was Chaminade's fourth victory this season over DeSmet. Chaminade, winners of the Metro Catholic Conference, improved to 23-4. CBC ended its season with a 17-11 record and DeSmet finished at 12-15. In Class 5, District 5 at Washington, top-seeded Lafayette topped No. 3 Summit 58-41 for its sixth district title in the last seven years and 11th in school history. The Lancers improved to 19-8. Lafayette got by Washington 52-32 in the semifinals while Rockwood Summit upset No. 2 Parkway South 58-54. Parkway South finished 19-8. In Class 4, District 6 play at MICDS, the host Rams were seeded fourth. They were upset in the first round by No. 5-seeded Westminster Christian Academy 45-38. The Rams finished their season at 14-11. In Class 4, District 7 play at St. Charles West, No. 6-seeded Priory lost its opening game to No. 3 St. Dominic 52-46. The Rebels' season ended with a 9-15 record. *** Conference The Lafayette boys’ team again became champion of the Suburban West Conference. After sharing the West crown the last two years, the Lancers won it outright this season. "It's a neat accomplishment," Lancers’ Coach Scott Allen said. "Our kids have worked extremely hard and have done what it takes to win some real close games in our league. It was one of our goals. I just want our kids to play hard, smart, and together and if they do so I felt this could happen." The title this year makes six years in a row either winning or sharing the league crown. In those six years, the Lancers are 44-2 in conference play. "We have a very competitive league and it says a lot for the players who have been a part of these titles," Allen said. "It takes great players to win and we've had our fair sure of those." Parkway South came in second to Lafayette in the West. Parkway West finished second in the Suburban South, behind Webster Groves.
Girls’ high school basketball
Sectionals One team advances and two had their season end in sectional play. Parkway North's special season continues. The Vikings defeated Poplar Bluff 42-36 at Farmington. Parkway North improved to 26-2. St. Joseph's Academy saw its post-season run end in the sectional. Nerinx Hall scored a 41-37 victory over the Angels, who finish with a 19-10 record. The Markers improved to 22-7. Parkway North was expected to face Nerinx Hall in the quarterfinals at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Hazelwood Central eliminated Parkway South 61-53 at Northwest High. The Patriots end their season at 25-4. *** Districts The Parkway North, Parkway South and St. Joseph's Academy girls took division titles. Top-seeded Parkway North defeated No. 3 Pattonville to win the Class 5, District 2 crown at Parkway North. The Vikings won their semi-final game 40-37 over No. 4 Parkway West while Pattonville got by No. 2 Francis Howell North 50-48. In the opening games, Parkway West defeated No. 5 Marquette 40-22 while Pattonville beat No. 6 Parkway Central 57-38. Parkway North improved to 25-2. Parkway West finished with a 10-17 record. Parkway Central ended at 10-16. Marquette closed out its season at 8-18. Parkway South won the Class 5, District 5 championship at Washington. It was the second district championship for Coach Thomas William, who led the Patriots to the district title in his first year as their coach in 2002. Overall, it is the fourth district title in school history. The top-seeded Patriots stopped No. 3 Eureka 62-51. In the semi-finals, Parkway South thumped Rockwood Summit 66-28 while Eureka upset No. 2 Lafayette 42-41. Parkway South improved to 25-3. Lafayette finished with an 18-8 record. In the Class 5, District 4 tournament at Ritenour, No. 2-seeded St. Joseph's Academy defeated No. 1 Incarnate Word Academy 55-49. Incarnate Word had won both of its previous games against the Angels. St. Joseph's improved to 19-9 with the victory. Incarnate Word finished 26-3. It was St. Joseph's 22nd district championship since 1975, a span that also includes nine second-place finishes. *** Conference Parkway South won the Suburban West Conference championship for the second straight year. And, once again, Parkway South went 8-0 in league play. "Every conference championship is special, and this one was especially nice since we were the favorite going into the season," Williams said. "We would much rather be the underdog because you can sneak up on teams. Being the favorite, everyone brings their best effort. Our conference is very competitive and to go 8-0 is a great accomplishment. With senior leadership and everyone understanding their role it made it possible." Parkway North won the Suburban South Conference for the first time since 1992. The Vikings defeated Eureka to clinch the crown and finish with a spotless 7-0 record.
NBA D-League Performer of the Week
DeSmet graduate Blake Ahearn, who plays for the Dakota Wizards, was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Feb. 2. Ahearn is the first Dakota player to earn the honor this season. Ahearn led the Wizards to a 3-0 record, averaging 29.7 points and 8.3 assists while shooting .519 (27-of-52) from the field and connecting on 12 three-pointers. Ahearn recently scored 32 points and added 10 assists in a 115-92 win over the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants. A 6-foot-2 guard from Missouri State, Ahearn was selected as a 2009 NBA D-League All-Star and participated in the third annual NBA D-League All-Star Game on Feb. 14 on Center Court at the NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas. The 2007-08 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, Ahearn earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the San Antonio Spurs earlier this season and is averaging 22.2 points this year.
College women's basketball
Lafayette High School graduate Kelsey Park set McKendree University single-season and single-game records for steals when she recorded nine in the Bearcats' recent 74-44 victory over Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Park, a senior point guard, has 118 this season, surpassing the former single-season record of 116 set in the 2001-02 season by Niamh Dwyer. "I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it,” Park said. “But I started taking more risks and it worked out for me. I started being more aggressive." Park has 33 steals in her last five games. "I don't know what got into me," Park said. "I thought it might be a long shot (to break the single-season record). I didn't want to focus on it too much. I wanted to focus on one game at a time. But then I started getting more steals and it felt like I could do it." Twice this season, Park had tied the single-game school record for steals with eight, a mark previously held by Nancy Wild since 1990. But Park also broke that record with a second-half steal in McKendree's win at Stephens.
Park is in second place on the career steals list with 318, 17 behind leader Gina Bloemer, who had 335 from 1995-99.
Eureka wrestling twins finish careers with state titles
By Warren Mayes
 The Lester twins’ era at Eureka ended with both boys raising their arms in victory.
Matt and Nick Lester won their matches at 160 pounds and 152 pounds, respectively, at the 79th annual Missouri State High School Wrestling Tournament in Columbia, Mo. The twins medaled each year for the Wildcats. Matt was third in 2006, fifth in 2007 and first last year, while Nick was third in 2006, second in 2007 and a state champion last year. Matt ended up a little better than Nick, going undefeated at 56-0 his senior season, while Nick endured one loss to finish at 53-1. Matt defeated Jefferson City's Christian Wyatt 7-0 for the title. “It was definitely exciting to win at state again,” Matt said. “I was happy. I knew I was unbeaten and I got the second state title. I’d never faced him before. My main philosophy is if your opponent can’t score, he can’t win. I was mainly defensive the whole time with him. I like wrestling that way.” Nick cruised in his match, a 20-8 victory over Andrew Buffa of Francis Howell Central. “It was very important for me to win that match,” Nick said. “I wanted to go into college strong and with a win.” Both twins have signed scholarships to attend Oklahoma University. The duo both moved up in weight this year, with Matt at 160 pounds and Nick at 152 pounds. “It kind of concerned me,” Matt said. “Strength plays a big factor. I’m small (at 5-foot-8) for 160. But I naturally walk around weighing 158, so I wasn’t too worried.” Matt said he knew early in the season the move would not hurt him. “Right after our first tournament, I knew I could do it,” Matt said. “Strength is a big factor, but technique is big, too. Strength is not everything. I’d like to think I’m strong technically and that’s more important.” Nick agreed. “I went from 135 to 152, but it wasn’t too hard,” Nick said. “Honestly, the most I weighed this year was 149 or 150. It was my senior year, and I did not want to have to cut weight all the time. Technique is more important anyway. I used that to my advantage this year.” The twins and their teammates had a new head coach in Tim Yancey, who stepped up from assistant to replace the retired Ted Peckron. “That was big factor,” Matt said. “It completely changed around. Coach was a huge help. Coach Yancey is a different style of coach. He got us prepared for the big matches. He really did a great job.” Yancey said he did not really see it that way. “Ted Peckron and I worked together for 17 years,” Yancey said. “He and I have been on the same page with the wrestling program. So when he retired, it was a smooth transition for the Lesters.” Yancey did say he beefed up the schedule to help benefit the twins. “Nick and Matt Lester have been extremely valuable to Eureka wrestling,” Yancey said. "They put us 'on the map' as a top wrestling program in the state. We stepped up our tournament schedule just to meet their level, which enabled us to wrestle the top teams across the state. Now we know we can compete with most of them and the boys do not feel intimidated." Both boys said it was important for as many of their Wildcats teammates to reach state as possible; seven earned state bids. “One of my goals was to win state, but my main goal was to get a lot of our teammates to state,” Matt said. “We helped get them prepared and ready. Maurice Alexander was one. He did a phenomenal job and he got third at state. I was more proud for him winning that. He didn’t place last year and didn’t do too good, but he came back this year. It was exciting to see him wrestling. We’re both seniors, and it was his last chance, too.” Nick also appreciated seeing his teammates do well. “It was a very good year for us,” Nick said. “It was very important to see my team doing well. It’s not good for just me and Matt to win. I want us all to do well.” That attitude does not surprise Yancey. He said they both are fine young men. "Nick and Matt Lester are leaders on the mat,” Yancey said. “They will outwork any one in the room. Everything is a competition to them. They don't talk much during practice and stay focused in drilling sessions. The boys are extremely friendly to everyone. They know everyone. They are very good students as well, very humble also. They have other interests other than wrestling. Outside of wrestling, they are normal teenagers with all of the same teenage issues to deal with - girls, friends, pressures. On the mat, they turn into supermen." Being undefeated is not something Matt said he dwells on much as he looks back over his senior year. “Last year I was 48-2 and this year I was undefeated, but it wasn’t as important,” Matt said. “I just went out and wrestled and did my thing. It just happened that I didn’t lose.” Matt also said he is pleased with his high school career. “I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted but I did a lot,” Matt said. “I could have been a four-time state champion. I could have done it I think. I did pretty good and I learned a lot from high school. I’m ready for the next level. I wouldn’t want to do it all over again because I want to use what I learned and go to that next level.” Matt, who plans to study pharmacy, said he is excited about Oklahoma. “I really liked the coaching staff,” Matt said. “They’re really enthusiastic about their sports down there. It was our first visit, and we felt we didn’t need to go anywhere else.” His goals in college are big. “I’d like to take home a title,” Matt said. The lone loss in 54 matches does not haunt Nick. Francis Howell Central's Brandon Wilbourn scored a 7-6 victory over Nick at the Howell Central Tournament. “Records don’t really matter to me,” Nick said. “In my loss, I beat him and I was defensive. In that match, I decided to come out strong and be aggressive and he caught me a couple of times and he took me down. I came back but I couldn’t get that last takedown. I didn’t wrestle too good that night. I learned from it. I learned not to be so aggressive and to be smarter in matches.” Wilbourn is a fine wrestler, Yancey said. "Nick's loss came from one of the fastest wrestlers I have ever seen,” Yancey said. “Brandon Wilbourn was lightning quick, and on that day, he was on top of his game. It was a one-point match, and Nick almost got the last takedown in the final seconds to win, but Brandon was able to avoid it. That is how close Nick's one loss was. Not to mention, but Brandon is also ranked as one the best wrestlers in the nation as well." Nick said he also is glad to be moving on to Oklahoma. “I got a lot of what I want to get accomplished,” Nick said. “I wasn’t undefeated but I did win two state championships.” At Oklahoma, Nick said he will study business. Neither twin will be doing any wrestling until they go to college. “It’ll just be training from now on,” Nick said. Naturally, Yancey said he is sad to see them graduate but grateful he was able to work with them. "The past four years have been a lot of fun,” Yancey said. “They are incredible on the mat. The things they can do and make it look so easy. I still shake my head in wonder when I watch them wrestle. I want to give a big thanks to Greg Lester and Tereasa Lester for letting us have their boys the past four years. I would also like to thank Nick Purler for his major contribution of getting Nick and Matt ready to wrestle on the national scene and at the Division I college level. He does a great job with the elite wrestlers at his academy."
Eureka swimmer wins two state titles, sets two state records
By Warren Mayes
 Wanting to wash away her second-place finishes last year, Eureka High School senior Amber Green reached her goal of winning two state championships and setting two state records in the process.
“I feel great, on top of the world,” said Green, who did not lose a race all season. “It seems like a dream come true.” Green won the 50-meter freestyle in 23.26 seconds and captured the 100 free in 50.24 in the state meet held at the St. Peters Rec-Plex. Green defeated Parkway West’s Kim Steinhouse in both events. Steinhouse swam the 50 free in 23.56 and the 100 free in 50.64. Green broke records in the preliminaries with a time of 23.24 in the 50 freestyle and 50.24 in the 100 freestyle. She tied that time in the state final. “It was pretty close,” Green said about her wins over Steinhouse. “I’ve swam against her in club (Green with Rockwood and Steinhouse with Parkway) swimming.” Last year, Green finished second in both races. “After coming out of it last year, it was a little more nerve-wracking this year,” Green said. “It was kind of like my revenge year for me. I lost last year by 3/100ths of a second. I set my standards high. I wanted to win both races.” She also made history, becoming the first swimmer to win state titles in Illinois and Missouri. Green won the 100 free as a sophomore at Mount Vernon. “Last year I wasn’t doing as much dry-land stuff like weight training and cross training and cardio,” Green said. “Coach Wasson is great with that. I take one of her classes in PE aerobics. That’s good for me.” The team had two morning practices a week this season. Both of those were dry-land workouts. “I just really stepped it up this year outside of the pool,” Green said. Green swims six days a week and works out two mornings a week. When she is in the water, it is time spent mostly on conditioning, technique and areas such as starts and turns. When she got to state, Green said she felt some pressure to perform well and win. “It’s been amazing,” Green said. “Everyone was so excited for the season to be over with, but I’m kind of sad because it’s my last year. I have great memories for sure, but that’s over with now.” Naturally, Green said she was elated to achieve what she set out to do. “It feels phenomenal,” Green said. “Coming from winning state in Illinois my sophomore year and then coming here and winning two more state titles and setting the state records is something I wanted since I started high school.” After she competes in the club regional competition, Green said she will not go to the junior nationals in Orlando, Fla., this year. “I’m going on vacation with my family,” Green said. “We’re going to Panama City, Fla., and it’s going to be fun.” Next up for Green is college. She has chosen Louisiana State University (LSU), where she plans to study communications and public relations. “They always say the minute you step foot on campus you know, and I instantly knew LSU is where I wanted to be,” Green said. “I got off the plane and I felt at home. They’re really good and they have a great sprint program. I’m really looking forward to it.” Green said she likely will stay in the 50 and 100 free events.
“I’m really close to getting my NCAA qualifying times, and hopefully, I can do that as a freshman and finish in the top 16 in Division I,” Green said. “That’s the plan.”
CBC hockey team wins 11th Challenge Cup title
By Warren Mayes
 With 23 seconds left to play, CBC senior Alex Roth lined up for the most important face-off of his four-year varsity hockey career.
With the two-time defending champ Cadets clinging to a one-goal lead, all the pressure was on Roth.
He came through and senior Andrew Clark scored an empty-net goal off the face-off, lifting CBC to a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the pesky Saint Louis University High Junior Billikens.
“Before I came out on the ice, my coach (John Jost) said it might be the biggest face-off I'd ever taken," said Roth, who earned Most Valuable Player honors. “It's a great way to end my career. This was a prefect ending. SLUH's got a great team and it was a hard game. It was the perfect ending to a great season."
CBC dug deep and won its third consecutive Challenge Cup championship before one of the largest crowds ever for the premier game sponsored by the Mid-States Club Hockey Association.
The Cadets (31-0-1) had to rally from a 2-1 deficit and then kill off three penalties down the stretch to score the victory over the Junior Billikens (22-6-1).
Overall, this was CBC's 11th championship and seventh since 2001.
"I'm more relieved than anything," Jost said. "But winning never gets old. We really wanted our seniors to go out as champions. My son (John Jost Jr.) is a senior and they are all a really tight-knit group."
It was SLUH's first appearance in the championship game.
"This is everything I thought it would be," SLUH Coach Charlie Busenhart said. "It just didn't happen for us. In the last two years, the other teams were beaten badly and we didn't want that to happen to us. We discussed it at length. We wanted to play all the way to the end and have a chance to win. The kids came through. "I think we were a crowd-pleaser."
CBC took a 1-0 lead early.
Roth buried the puck from the left face-off circle at the 6 minute, 11 second mark of the first period. Josh Morris fed Sean Gammage, who passed the puck across the ice to Roth, who slammed the puck past SLUH goalie Ryan Boschert.
SLUH tied the game on a two-on-one break early in the second period. After getting the puck from forcing a turnover, Joseph Cella came cruising down the left wing. He slowed down to freeze the defender and passed the puck to Connor Frick, who went top shelf for the goal at 1:53 to knot the game 1-1. The Junior Billikens scored just 34 seconds later for a 2-1 lead at the 2:27 mark. After the puck came out from behind the net when John Berger knocked it away from a group, Gregory Place was in the right place. Standing in the face-off circle, Place also went top shelf for an unassisted goal.
"That really got the crowd into the game and made everyone think we could win this," Busenhart said. "We said, 'Hey we're here. We can win.' We got the crowd going. Anything can happen then.
Almost.
Another score shortly afterward was nullified when the goal was knocked off the post. SLUH's Frick came in all alone and shot but CBC goalie Timothy Knox blocked it. Grammage was following and he and Frick bounced into the goal, knocking it loose.
"It was the right call," Busenhart said.
Jost said his club was not fore-checking enough and played too much in their own end. That allowed SLUH to take command in that stretch.
"Our seniors decided they wanted to go out a winner and they took over," Jost said.
CBC tied the game at 2 on a short-handed goal by Roth, who made a smart play. Along the boards in the SLUH zone, Roth stole the puck from Daniel Warnecke and skated to the middle. He went top shelf and scored at 7:30 before falling to the ice.
"Roth made a beautiful play," Jost said. "He's a senior and a veteran and he showed it right there. He was on the team as a freshman that lost in the championship. He remembers that. He took us on his back. He had two goals and an assist and did some talking between the second and third periods."
CBC's Dominic Valencia got tripped up on a three-on-two break at 2:54 of the third period and slammed into the boards. Jost said that Valencia broke his left thumb.
The Cadets took the lead in the third period.
Sophomore David Schmidt scored after a turnover created by Samuel Warning, who pushed the puck to Schmidt. With a defender on him, Schmidt made a perfect shot from the right circle. The puck hit the far post and sailed in for the go-ahead goal 4 minutes into the third period.
"Sammy gave me puck and I just tried to put a good shot on net and it went in," Schmidt said. "I like to do that a lot. We were all a little nervous after they scored two goals there earlier."
The Cadets just missed a chance less than a minute later when a shot by Jack Ryan went off the top crossbar.
SLUH had a power-play chance when Roth was called for head contact with less than 8 minutes to play. Knox made a terrific save on a slap shot by Kevin Corby. Out in front of the crease, Knox caught the blast from the left face-off circle with his glove as he dropped to the ice.
Another penalty was called after Roth came back on the ice. Ryan Trenz went off for hooking.
The Cadets were able to kill off and thwart SLUH on its fourth power-play opportunity.
Clark was called for interference after a face-off with 2:57 to play. Again, CBC killed the penalty with Knox making two big saves.
SLUH called a timeout with 59 seconds to play and the Junior Billikens pulled the goalie for an extra attacker.
"It was there for the taking," Busenhart said. "We were too tired there at the end I think. We didn't make the quick passes and shots there at the end. We just didn't bury the puck."
Knox made a good save on a shot from the high slot by Corby with 23 seconds left.
"Killing those penalties seemed like an eternity," Jost said. "Tim Knox is a senior goalie. This was his first crack at the varsity this year. From day one, he took the job and he never had a bad game. Tonight, he was outstanding."
Roth then won the face-off and sent the puck back to Clark. He scored on an empty netter from 80 feet away, making it 4-2.
"Putting Alex on the ice is always good because he usually wins the face-off," Clark said. "I just happened to be in the right position. It came right to me. I saw a lane so I just threw it up. Coach said on the bench to just get it out, that we would take icing there. So, I saw the net and I just went for it. Luckily, it went in. Scoring the final goal in the championship game is a dream come true."
Photo courtesy of Rob Staggenborg
MICDS captures school’s first hockey title
By Warren Mayes
Mary Institute-Country Day School (MICDS) senior George Desloge knew if he could get the puck near junior Spence Myer, a goal would result. He was right, as Myer scored the go-ahead goal at the 6 minute, 15 second mark of the third period and the Rams went on to score a 4-2 victory over the Priory Rebels on March 4 at the Scottrade Center. The victory earned the Rams (20-7-1) the Mid-States Club Hockey Association's Wickenhauser Cup.
"I came in 2-on-2 and I gave the defenseman a pause," Desloge said. "I saw Spence and I know he can finish. He has done it all season."
Myer had scored 36 goals heading into the championship game, which tied him for first this season. Now he is atop the goal-scoring ranks.
"It's not all about me; it's about the team," said Myer, voted the Most Valuable Player for his performance. "It took everybody to win this one."
Desloge got the puck from sophomore Robert Cates and he came skating down the left side. Using some nifty stick work, Desloge split the Priory defenders and saw Myer all along to the right side of the goal. He threaded the puck to Myer, who wristed it in off Priory goalie Kevin Yuan.
Myer said he got open the way he has all year - speed.
"That's our game," Myer said. "We're not a nitty-gritty team like their guys. Overall, we're not about the power forward or the big grueling defense. We're all about speed."
Priory Coach John Notter said MIDCS' speed was a factor in the game.
"That skill and speed, when they're in your zone, they're as good as anybody in the league," Notter said. "They're constantly trying to get into the slot for a tip and if they miss the tip, the guy on the weak side is there to put it in. They really move the puck well."
It was a historical victory as it was the Rams' first Wickenhauser Cup championship. The Rams have been in the championship game only one other time - in 1976, when they lost to Pattonville.
"MICDS has always been thought of as a football school and now we can be thought of as hockey school," MICDS Coach John Mattingly said. "I'm pretty close to sitting on top of the world. I'm very happy for the boys."
Desloge agreed.
"This is the best feeling ever," Desloge said. "It's senior year. There's nothing better."
“It's a huge honor to win the first MICDS hockey championship," Myer said.
It was a 2-2 game after two periods.
"We won the third period and that's what it's all about," Myer said.
However, after getting the go-ahead goal, MICDS knew the game was far from over.
"I knew we had to keep playing hard," Desloge said. "We had to keep skating hard. We couldn't give up."
Priory had a couple of good shots on goal but could not dent MICDS junior goalie Logan Spence.
The Rebels pulled Yuan off the ice with 57 seconds remaining. However, the extra man did not help as the Rams got a loose puck and Jackson Myer scored an empty-net goal with 35.9 seconds left.
Penalties plagued Priory.
MICDS took a 1-0 lead at 9:35 of the first period with a power-play goal. Junior Zachary Gornet scored the goal on a shot from the left face-off circle. Spence Myer and freshman Chris Hiemenz had the assists on the goal. MICDS outshot the Rebels 11-5 in the first 15 minutes.
Priory got that goal back just 17 seconds into the second period when Patrick Moley scored on a slap shot from the top of the slot. Niall Caparon and Salvatore Revetta were credited with assists on the goal.
The Rebels went ahead 2-1 at 2:28 when Sean Lamb scored an unassisted short-handed goal. Lamb knocked the puck loose and got to it and faked left and went around Spence for the score.
The Rams tied it on a short-handed goal at 6:07. A clearing pass was coming to the Priory goal but Yuan did not handle it well. The puck was loose in front and sophomore Edward "Teddy" Condie pushed the puck toward the goal. It hit the post and trickled over the red line.
"Teddy Condie is one of our workhorses," Mattingly said. "He works and works and he earned that goal. He's a great penalty killer."
"It was an odd goal," Notter said. "Kevin uncharacteristically let in an odd goal, which he normally doesn't do. I think that hurt us. That's a heartbreaker. That crushes you right there."
Naturally, it was disappointing for the Rebels.
"We just told them we only played our game for the first five minutes of the first period," Notter said. "Then in the final 10 minutes of the first and for the whole second period, we played real sloppy. I think taking all the penalties hurt."
However, Notter said he cannot be too down about his team, which finished with an 11-9-4 record.
"There are 43 teams in Mid-States and only four were playing tonight," Notter said. "While it hurts to lose, they need to be really pleased that they made it here. I have nothing but respect and admiration for these guys. We battled and kept playing. As a team, they never quit."
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