After an 11-0 rout of Lakewood, the St. Edward hockey team faced its two biggest challenges in the playoffs yet: #4 seeded Holy Name and #3 seeded Rocky River. Holy Name, a common GLHL rival, gave the Eagles a first period test, in which the score was 0-0. 10 minutes into the second period, senior Matt Smith put the Eagles on the scoreboard, giving them the 1-0 lead. Junior Sean Kolenich finished off the Green Wave with two goals, 1 goal coming 93 seconds after Matt Smith’s goal, and the other coming at 13:53 in the third period. Senior goalkeepers Nate Cappellazo recorded a 20 save shutout as the Eagles advanced to the District Semifinal.
Inside Brooklyn Ice Rink on a Saturday night, the St. Edward hockey team was able to handily defeat Rocky River. Underclassmen Zachary Bell and Jack Mansour started off the scoring clinic at 5:01 in the first period. Freshman Zachary Bell assisted sophomore Jack Mansour for the first goal. After that, the Eagles put on a show for the fans inside John M. Coyne Recreation Center. 5 more goals were scored by Noah Schultz, Carson Kostka, Sean Kolenich, Jacob Dobrowsky and Matt Smith. Senior goalkeeper Nate Cappellazzo only allowed 1 goal out of 27 shots and the St. Edward power play unit successfully killed 5 out of 5 Rocky River power plays.
The St. Edward Eagles will now take on their rival from Ohio City, the St. Ignatius Wildcats on Saturday, March 7th at 1:00 PM. In playoffs the Eagles have outscored opponents 20-1, and the Wildcats have outscored opponents 28-1. In the regular season meeting, St. Ignatius defeated the Eagles 5-0 inside the same rink Saturday’s district championship will be played. However, the past results mean nothing as the Eagles will attempt to upset the #1 seeded and OHSAA Championship favorite St. Ignatius Wildcats.
– Diego Palko ’21
