St. Xavier loses in state semifinals
BY TIM WARSINSKEY | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR
COLUMBUS - St. Xavier's first trip to the state hockey semifinals was a long weekend, but not long enough for the Bombers.
They'll head home today after losing to Gilmour Academy, 4-2, Sunday night in Nationwide Arena.
St. Xavier (16-13-5) endured Saturday's blizzard and a long wait Sunday.
The semifinal did not start until 9 p.m., after the Columbus Blue Jackets' game against Tampa Bay and after Lakewood St. Edward's 4-2 victory over Toledo St. Francis in the first semifinal.
The semifinals originally were scheduled for Saturday, but were postponed by the snow storm.
Gilmour (23-17-1), also making its first state semifinal appearance, will play 10-time state champion Lakewood St. Edward (28-11-3) today at 5 p.m.
St. Edward will be missing two starters, who were ejected in a last-minute brawl.
St. Xavier fell behind early and dug a deeper hole in the third period when the Bombers faced two 5-on-3 Gilmour power plays.
The first resulted in a Gilmour goal by Roc Gossett and a 3-0 lead.
St. Xavier broke the shutout on senior Jordan Kamp's goal with assists from Josh Miller and Stephen Louie with 4:46 remaining.
St. Xavier killed the second 5-on-3, during which St. Xavier goalie Joe Gieringer stopped seven shots in a 45-second span.
Gilmour did score an even-strength goal by Gossett with assists from Davis and Noah Hershamn with 1:54 to play.
St. Xavier clearly was worn out, though it was not done scoring. Louie scored on a power play with 41 seconds remaining.
Gieringer finished with 33 saves, and Gilmour sophomore Austin Severson stopped 21 shots.
Sophomore Billy Davis and Gossett each scored two goals for Gilmour.
They play on Gilmour's second line with junior Andrew Phillips, who had three assists.
Gossett and Davis each had an assist.
Gilmour took a 2-0 lead on goals Davis in the first and second periods.
In the night's first semifinal, Alex Novack, Vinny Buttitta and Ross Kivett each had a goal and an assist and Robbie Ginsberg stopped 29 shots to lead Lakewood St. Edward past Toledo St. Francis. Brett Carter also scored for the Eagles (28-11-3). Kivett's was an empty-net goal.