Calvert Hall (12-8-2), which lost to St. Joe in last
year’s final, entered the yesterday’s game with some reason for
optimism, after offering the Gaels a strong challenge, in a 2-1 loss,
when the two teams last met in mid-January.  However, the St. Joe
defense, led by goalkeeper Brooks Schilling, shut down those hopes by
stifling a Cardinal offense which entered the contest averaging 4.7
goals per game and just under six in their last seven games.

Schilling,
who now has four shutouts on the year, came up with 17 saves, in a game
that remained tense and tight until the third period.

After
gaining a 1-0 lead on a first period power play goal by Matt Buonato,
St. Joe, which outshot the Cardinals 43-17, squandered several scoring
opportunities, before finally breaking open the contest in the final 10
minutes.  Jon Rodriguez doubled the Gael lead with a low blast, with
9:43 left in the third, and things loosened up from there.  Mark Cisar
followed with a rebound score before Jake Natoli and Andrew McCrumb
iced the victory with late scores.

Brady Earle and Brad Hresko each had two assists and Natoli had an assist to go with his goal.

The
late surge spoiled a strong effort by Calvert Hall goalkeeper Stefan
Blout, who finished with 38 saves, but ultimately the Cardinals could
not overcome an 8-1 deficit in penalties.

St. Joe, which
improved to 13-2-0 on the year, has little time to celebrate the win as
they return to the ice tonight for a semifinal game in the Maryland
Scholastic Hockey League (MSHL) Private Schools Tournament against
DeMatha.  The Stags defeated St. Joe, 5-3, in early December as the
Gaels got off to an 0-2 start.  They also lost their season opener,
8-2, to Gonzaga, which is in the other MSHL semifinal and the top seed
in the event.

Calvert Hall and Gilman also represented the MIAA
in the MSHL tournament, but the Cardinals fell to Bullis, 5-4, in their
opening game and DeMatha routed Gilman, 9-1.