The Saint Ignatius lacrosse team is hungry.
The Wildcats completed an impressive season in 2016, finishing second in the Division 1 OHSLA state tournament, falling short to Upper Arlington (the rematch to come on April 28 on Wasmer Field at 7:00 p.m.). The Wildcats have a sour taste in their mouths and are ready to inflict punishment on any team that stands in their path to lifting gold.
The first roadblock for the Wildcats was Saturday’s opening contest against St. Ignatius Prep (Chicago) on the campus of one of the NCAA Division II’s finest, the Trine University Thunder. The Wildcats hurdled it with ease in a 9-4 victory.
The Wildcats’ reign of terror started just six seconds into the season when junior Anthony Ameo ripped one past the Wolfpack goaltender.
Ameo, who went 10-of-12 on faceoffs, committed to the Ohio State University on December 12.
The Wolfpack scored the next goal of the season opener on a nice goal beating Carter Blossey, the Wildcats top-tier goaltender who also plans to attend Ohio State.
Jack Moriarty then ended the first quarter with a goal of his own and gave the Wildcats a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Michael Boehm, the two sport varsity athlete, added his first of four to extend the Wildcats lead to 3-1. Boehm is committed to attend the University of Michigan in the fall of 2020.
Sophomore Connor McGowan, who along with Boehm won a state championship last week for the Ice ‘Cats, scored a goal of his own, placing the Wildcats up three on the Wolfpack.
Noah Catanzarite added his first of two goals to put the Cats up by four. Michael Boehm then scored his 2nd varsity goal, giving the Cats a five goal lead, but the Wolfpack scored their second of the game before the half concluded. The WIldcats led 6-2 at the halfway point of the contest.
The Wolfpack once again traded a goal with Boehm, as the Wolfpack brought the game within three before Boehm added his third of the game. Noah Catanzarite tabbed his second, and the Wolfpack scored their fourth and final goal, and the third quarter ended with a Wildcat lead of 8-4.
Boehm picked up his 4th goal in the final quarter, and the Wildcats picked up win No. 1 by a score of 9-4.
Senior captain and Bellarmine committ Brent Chernosky, senior Riley Kinzel, and freshman Connor Cmiel all contributed assists.
Ameo, Catanzarite, and Max Maruna all picked up multiple ground balls.
Carter Blossey got his first win of the campaign, and the defensive combination of captain Sean Keller, Nick Carl, Dillon Pietrangelo, Grant Geary, Colin Allen and Jeff Outcalt all helped Blossey.
Next Saturday, the Wildcats head down to Cincinnati to face Archbishop Moeller, and try to improve their record to 2-0. And Tuesday, April 4 is a must attend for any Saint Ignatius fan, as the Wildcats will take on the St. Edward Eagles at 7 p.m.