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UNIVERSITY SCHOOL VERSUS SAINT IGNATIUS VARSITY HOCKEY RECAP.

By Eddie Dwyer, 12/22/10, 12:00AM EST

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WILDCATS ROAR EARLY AND THEN TURN BACK THE PREPPERS, 2-1, IN ANOTHER SPIRITED ENCOUNTER BETWEEN TWO OF NORTHEAST OHIO'S FINEST PROGRAMS.

LIAM GEITHER AND MIKE AVDEY PROVIDE THE GOALS AS THE 'CATS CAPTURE THEIR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY.

POSTED ON 12/22/10 AT 8:47 P.M.
By Eddie Dwyer

Copyright, December 2010

The wise and disciplined-conscious Saint Joseph nuns, when they weren't sharpening knuckles with a soft tap of the ruler, always taught us in grade school that if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Saint Ignatius High School's skilled and savvy junior forward Liam Geither did just that late Wednesday afternoon, as his seventh goal of the season and the first of the game turned out to be vital in the Wildcats' hard-earned 2-1 Red North Division victory over University School on the ice inside Brooklyn's John M. Coyne Recreation Center.

Geither, whose post-season heroics helped the Wildcats to a state ice hockey championship last March, stayed focused on the job at hand and put his team in front, 1-0, with less than three minutes gone in the first period.

Taking a rebound from fellow junior forward Colton Riemenschneider, Geither attempted a shot that hit off the goalie's pad. Rebounding his own effort, Geither slapped home number seven off a power-play situation. Later, Geither laughed and said, “Yeah, that would be nice,” when it was suggested that he should be credited with an assist on his own goal.

The goal was an act of perseverance that would have earned Geither a gold star from the Sisters of Saint Joseph. But he'll settle for the victory, thank you, which was the Wildcats' seventh in a row.

Saint Ignatius, which improved to 12-3 overall, now stands 4-0 in the Red North, a division, said Wildcats head coach Pat O'Rourke '90, that has to be as tough as any division in the state, in any sport.

Geither and Coach O'Rourke shared the same sentiment after the game – that the Wildcats dominated early, but left some points on the ice.

Of course, some of that was the result of University School's hustle and coaching. The Preppers, who are now 2-2 in the Red North Division, split four games against the 'Cats last season. US defeated Saint Ignatius, 3-2, in overtime for the Baron Cup Championship last winter, but was dominated by the Wildcats, 5-1, in the state semifinals.

“We had a lot of early chances that we didn't convert, so now you're playing more defensively,” Coach O'Rourke said.

Saint Ignatius got what turned out to be the decisive goal when sophomore forward Mike Avdey, coming up with a picture-perfect move from a winning face off, beat the goalie on his stick side with 9:25 remaining in the second period.

As is usually the case when the Wildcats and the Preppers get together, fans found themselves watching a game that was in doubt until the final 26.2 seconds ticked away. The late third-period excitement was provided by University School's Jack Linderman, who scored off a “knuckle shot” at 5:38.

Along with the efforts by Geither and Avdey, Saint Ignatius got another solid performance in goal by senior Josh Potts. The Preppers had 28 shots on goal.

In what was a first this season, neither one of the Wildcats' leading lamp lighters – sophomore forward Miles McQuinn (21 goals) and junior forward and captain Paddy Spellacy (17 goals) – scored.

However, Coach O'Rourke put that fact in its proper perspective. “We have some other players,” he said.

WELL-DESERVED HONOR: Chris Knoth '10, whose outstanding work as a defender played a major role in the Wildcats' run to the state ice hockey championship last season, will be presented the John J. Wirtz Athlete of the Year Award during halftime of the Wildcats' basketball game against University School on January 7.

Named in honor of the late and legendary Saint Ignatius coach and athletic director, the Wirtz Award is presented to the young man who had done the most for Saint Ignatius sports that school year and whose name is synonymous with skill and good sportsmanship. Knoth also excelled in lacrosse.

Congratulations to Chris and his family.

STO IN THE HOUSE: SportsTime Ohio was at the Brooklyn Rink on Wednesday to film a segment on the Saint Igntatius hockey program and the thrillsome threesome of the Wildcats' Broadcasting Network – Mike Watts '11, Mark Szwejkowski '11 and Sean Hegarty '11. The segment is expected to air on STO's High School Sports Insider some time next month.

IN CLOSING: THE CORNER WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL OF THE SAINT IGNATIUS ATHLETIC TEAMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

LET ME SAY AGAIN THAT THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A PLEASURE AND A PRIVILEGE FOR THIS VETERAN REPORTER. GOD BE WILLING, WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN 2011.