March 14, 2009

First Semifinal Game – 2009 OHSAA Ice Hockey Championship

Semifinal Thriller Goes to University School in Double-Overtime

Preppers overcome early two-goal deficit for berth in state championship game

Game Stats: Hunting Valley University School 4, Lakewood St. Edward 3 (2 OT)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior defenseman Andy Gerow’s goal 67 seconds into the second overtime gave Hunting Valley University School a 4-3 win over defending state champion Lakewood St. Edward Saturday in the first semifinal of the OHSAA ice hockey championship at Nationwide Arena.

Aiming for their second state title, the Preppers improve to 30-6-3 and will face the winner of the second semifinal game between Centerville and Toledo St. John’s Jesuit at 11 a.m. Sunday at Nationwide Arena.

The Eagles end their season 28-6-5 and dropped all three meetings with University School this season, the first two coming by scores of 5-3 and 4-3 during the regular season.

These two teams met in three-straight state championship games from 2002-04 and have combined to make 26 appearances in the state semifinals – eight for University School and 18 for St. Edward.

After a scoreless first period, two St. Edward goals appeared to give the Eagles the momentum to make their 15th appearance in the state championship game, already having won a state-record 11 of them.

But just 18 seconds after St. Edward’s second goal, the Preppers scored their first of three-straight goals to take a 3-2 lead midway through the third period.

St. Edward senior forward Michael Mackie-Kwist scored with just over five minutes to go in regulation, which would lead to two overtimes and eventually Gerow’s game-winner for University School.

### ohsaa.org ###

Contact: Tim Stried, tstried@ohsaa.org