Saint Ignatius rolls past Hoover, 14-8, ahead of MSLA tournament test
Saint Ignatius took control early and never let go Tuesday night, building a seven-goal halftime cushion on the way to a 14-8 win over Hoover. The Wildcats led 5-3 after the first quarter, surged to a 10-3 advantage by halftime and stayed firmly in front the rest of the way, handing North Canton Hoover its third loss of the season.
The decisive stretch came in the first half, when Saint Ignatius turned a competitive opening quarter into a commanding lead. The Wildcats were up 12-6 by the end of the third quarter before closing out the six-goal victory. That fast start gave the team the kind of complete performance it wanted heading into the stretch run, with the offense finishing efficiently and the defense making Hoover work for every chance.
Michael McManamon set the tone for the Wildcats attack with 5 G, 1 A and 6 P, leading a balanced offensive effort. Colin Roubic added 1 G, 4 A and 5 P, helping drive the ball movement that kept Hoover on its heels, while Will French chipped in 2 G and 2 A. As a team, Saint Ignatius totaled 14 G on 29 S and recorded 8 A, stats that reflected how well the Wildcats moved possession and finished opportunities.
The Wildcats also got key support in the cage and at the faceoff stripe. Goalie Callaway Connelly finished with 10 SV while allowing 8 GA on 18 shots on goal, coming up with several important stops as Hoover tried to claw back into the game. At the X, Dylan Dykstra went 10 for 22 on FO, a steady effort that helped Saint Ignatius secure possessions and manage the tempo.
The result gives Saint Ignatius another strong performance to carry forward as the postseason picture sharpens. Next up is a major challenge in the MSLA tournament, where the Wildcats are set to face No. 1 nationally ranked Culver Academy in the first round Friday at 6:30 p.m. For a Saint Ignatius team preparing for the OHSAA playoffs in mid-May, Tuesday’s win over Hoover looked like exactly the kind of night that can build confidence and sharpen the group for what is coming next.
