GATES MILLS, OH - After an improbable win on Saturday against St. Xavier (KY), which saw the Wildcats rally back to win 12-11 after trailing 11-10 with 1:17 remaining in regulations, the Wildcats had to turn around and get ready for a top regional match up in the state in the Hudson Explorers.
Wednesday's game had heavy home-field implications, with the Wildcats and Explorers as a pair of the top teams in Region II. From the first face-off, the Wildcats owned the game's tempo, and senior captain Bryce Allen would open the scoring with 9:22 remaining in the first period.
Shortly after the Allen goal, fellow captain Ty Seighman would score to make it 2-0 in favor of the Cats. With an early deficit, the Explorers began to slow down the tempo and search for openings against the Wildcat defense. Hudson's Jackson Churchwell would rip a shot past Freddy Webster to put the Explorers on the board. The Wildcats would take a 2-1 lead advantage to the second period.
Junior Henry Ferguson would spark a massive run for the Cats to begin the second frame, would take the possession from the defensive zone and go coast-to-coast, speeding past Explorer defenders, and sneaking a shot past Jack Sutton for a goal, making it 3-1 Wildcats.
It would be an avalanche of goals in the second period; Allen would be set up with a Seigman pick that cleared space for him to go top shelf to make it 4-1. Allen would follow that up with his third goal, bouncing in a shot to make it 5-1.
Senior Owen Hilliard fed Ferguson, who would be wide open outside of the crease, and score a behind-the-back goal against Sutton. Sophomore Colin Roubic made it a 7-1 advantage with just over six minutes to go in the half. Michael McManamon would get in on the scoring action to make it 8-1.
"I saw an opening and had a similar play against Shaker Heights; why not do it again," Ferguson said.
The Wildcats would take an 11-4 lead into the break, but Hudson would go on a run of their own in the third period to make it a close contest late. Allen would add his fourth goal to open the third period, but that is when the Explorers went on the attack. From the eight-minute mark on, Hudson would outscore the Wildcats 5-1, making it a 13-9 contest heading into the final period of regulation.
"We knew tonight was going to be a dog fight," Allen says. "The coaches got us hyped up and ready to go."
The Wildcats defense and Webster's play between the pipes would highlight the fourth. Hudson would take shot after shot, but Webster took care of business. Ferguson would add to his highlight tape with an incredible diving goal outside of the crease to ice the game for the Wildcats with seven minutes to play. A hat-trick from McManamon would put the final touches in the Wildcats 15-10 victory over Hudson.
Coming off his game-winning goal against St. Xavier (KY), senior Face-Off Specialist Jacob Roubic has been on fire to open the season, winning a majority of his face-offs.
"We're on a roll right now," says Roubic. "Our team chemistry has been so good, and that's been able to carry over from game to game. I feel that cohesiveness when I'm out there."
The win is a huge step forward for the Wildcats, who are trying to secure the home field for the Regional tournament in May. Now 6-1, the Wildcats' lone loss came on their East Coast trip when they fell to a highly touted Heights (DC) team. The Wildcats will have another major test on Saturday from Columbus when they take on Dublin Jerome at 2 p.m.
