The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Benedictine, Gilmour, Lake record solid wins
A look at highlights from area teams from games this past weekend, leading into a light MLK weekend of tournament action:
• Prior to nearly turning the Top of the Crop on its ear Jan. 12 in a 4-3 loss to Mentor, Benedictine notched a 3-2 overtime win in Red Central action over Strongsville. Matt Carson had a hat trick for the Bengals, who prior to a pair of wins over the Mustangs this winter hadn’t beaten them since the 2008 Brooklyn District.
• Gilmour had its 12game unbeaten run ended Jan. 13 by St. Edward but did record a nice 3-2 win Jan. 11 in GLHL action over Shaker Heights. David Zarycki, Dominic Casamatta and Eamonn Mulkern lit the lamp for the Lancers.
• Lake Catholic snapped an eight-game losing skid to St. Edward with a 6-4 GLHL victory Jan. 9. Jacob Schmitt and Amaedeo Cantini each had hat tricks, and Patrick Kristo had 35 saves for the Cougars. Schmitt gave Lake a 6-3 lead with an shorthanded goal, assisted by Cole Horvath, at the 4:18 mark of the third. The Eagles had outscored the Cougars in those eight previous wins in the series, 55-7.
• Coincidentally with the way holiday tournaments transpired, University has played double the opponents from Pennsylvania (eight) than Greater Cleveland (four) thus far, entering a Jan. 15 GLHL encounter with Holy Name in a late-night slot at Ries. The Preppers were 0-5-1 against Pennsylvania foes until a weekend road sweep of Meadville and Erie Cathedral Prep. Against Cathedral Prep, George Brinn recorded a goal and three assists.
• Val Carriero had two goals and three assists and Bennett Wenger scored twice as Kenston turned away Cleveland Heights, 6-2, on Jan. 12 at The Pond. The Bombers have won 10 of their last 11 meetings with Heights. The previous night, Kenston had a two-goal lead at Rocky River, only to drop a 3-2 decision. It would have been the Bombers’ firstever win over the Pirates.