Riley Kinzel and Kyle Katigbak led the effort for the Lax Cats, each scoring a hat trick in the squad's final regular season home game of the year. Both Saint Ignatius senior goalkeepers, Carter Blossey and Jack Rennillo, also played well for the blue and gold. 

 

With the win, the Wildcats advance to 8-5 on the season heading into tomorrow's matchup with St. Xavier in Cincinnati at 7 p.m.

 

The Comets started off the contest with an early goal, finding the back of the net on a nifty goal. But the Wildcats soon responded. 

 

Riley Kinzel scored a pair of goals in the span of a minute, quickly grabbing the lead for the Wildcats with seven minutes left in the first. 

 

The Comets scored soon after Kinzel's double-play, tying the contest at two. The score remained that way through the end of the first, and into the second period. 

 

Following several Wildcats' shots, including one off the post, Kinzel touched the twine for the third time of the night. Kinzel's hat trick goal granted the Wildcats the lead with 3:48 left in the half. Less than a minute later, Max Maruna raked a tally, adding an insurance goal.

 

The Lax Cats entered the half with a 4-2 lead, slimmer than some Wildcats' faithful might have liked, but the Wildcats came out firing in the second half.

 

Just 30 seconds into the third quarter, Chris Larsen found the back of the net to start the scoring. Then Kyle Katigbak unleashed his offensive prowess, netting a pair of impressive tallies.

 

Suddenly, the Wildcats held a commanding 7-2 lead just minutes into the second half. 

 

Solon buttoned down on defense, drawing a pair of Wildcats' penalties in the mid stages of the third. The Lax Cats killed off both, but Grant McCurry netted his second of the contest with 3:46 left in the third. 

 

Another penalty on the Wildcats looked as if it might hurt the hosts, but Katigbak came back with his third goal of the evening. It marked the first hat trick of Katigbak's career. 

 

The score remained 8-3 Wildcats heading into the fourth quarter. 

 

The first three minutes of the fourth elapsed quietly until Connor Cmiel fired a powerful shot into the back of the net with 8:56 remaining. Nathan Conry provided a helper on Cmiel's first varsity goal, which gave the Wildcats a solid 6-goal lead. 

 

The Comets came back a tally at the 6:47 mark, as Justin Schneider scored one for the visitors. Senior Night could not be spoiled, though, as Ian Flynn returned the favor with 5:07 remaining, and Patrick Koehler netted another just 16 seconds later. Koehler's marker came following a picturesque pass by Riley Kinzel. 

 

The score stood at 11-4 as the final score, following close chances for both teams in the final few minutes. 

 

Following the win, the Wildcats will travel to Cincy tomorrow, facing off with the Bombers of St. Xavier. The contest will be the Lax Cats' regular season finale before the squad's playoff push begins.