Survive and Advance.

The famous phrase popularized by Jim Valvano rings true for the Saint Ignatius hockey team on their quest to lift their third straight championship.

The Wildcats survived Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Rocky River in a hard fought, tightly contested battle.

The Wildcats pressured the Pirates early and often controlling possession. The lone scary moment of the first period came when Teddy Stueber hit the post and left the puck lying in front of Savarino near the seven-minute mark. Benny Savarino kept his magnificent junior campaign alive with a 17/18 save performance.

With less than ten seconds remaining in the first period, Camden Kurtz cycled the puck finding brother Bain Kurtz who passed the puck to a looming Michael Boehm. Boehm launched a rocket over the glove of Ryan Dunning to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead heading to the first intermission.

The only fault for stud goaltender Benny Savarino came at the 8:52 mark of the second when Aidan Dempsey produced on a breakaway to even things up at one. At this point in the back and forth contest, the Pirates' rabid student section had re-entered the contest and the Pirates looked to seize momentum from the Wildcats.

A stout defensive effort from Bain Kurtz led to Michael Boehm taking the puck down the circle before cutting across a Pirate defender and used his precise shot to best Dunning over the shoulder.

At the 6:15 mark of the second period, aside from a few penalties, the Cats never looked back.

The Wildcats controlled much of the third period and Benny Savarino continued his great night in net and shut down the few chances the Cats allowed the Pirates.

With four minutes remaining in the third period, Boehm, now playing defense, threaded the needle with a gorgeous pass across ice finding Camden Kurtz. Kurtz fluttered a puck over Dunning to extend the lead over the Pirates.

The Cats had a key penalty kill late featuring another highlight save from Savarino, and as the buzzer sounded, the Cats concluded their District Semifinal win and turned the page to next week’s District Final aka the Elite Eight.

St. Edward bested Holy Name in the back end of the District Semifinal with a 2-1 win. The Wildcats face the Eagles next Saturday at one o’clock at Brooklyn.

A preview article of the District Final will be posted next Thursday.