Chaminade 11 - Parkway North 3

When I asked for thoughts after the game and why our performance against Marquette and our performance this afternoon against North were so different, the general response was that the team was in a better mood. We were more relaxed, more focused, more ready to take on the challenge in front of us. I've said it before, when we play our game, largely devoid of mental mistakes, we can beat anybody.

Guest assistant Conner Keefe mentioned that this was the same game as Marquette, a good defensive team that is fast and physical, except that since our play was more relaxed and fluid, the shots that missed against Marquette went in against North. The stats back it up as we shot 20% against Marquette and 52% against North.

Overall, it was one of the better games we played all season and even my negative nature can't find anything to gripe about. The team defense was fantastic, the drives were aggressive as always and the passing and shooting accuracy was much improved. The team had a big challenge in front of them and they banded together and overcame that challenge and I'm proud of the way we played. Peter Hoette and Ed Rose deserve special recognition for their performances. Peter had his largest save total of the season, including a couple that he wasn't expected to stop. Peter's passing was consistently good as well. Ed played his best defensive game of the season, for which his teammates rewarded him by finding him a number of breakaways. Ed scored 6 goals on 7 shots, which is very impressive (although the manner in which a couple were scored were...shall I say...interesting). Ed was even interviewed after the game and I imagine we will both be quoted in the Suburban Journal tomorrow.

Goals: Rose - 6, Meara - 2, Watkins - 2, Glauber - 1
Assists: Glauber - 2, Meara - 2, Duncan - 1, Faust - 1, Hoette - 1, Schott - 1, Watkins - 1
Steals: Entwistle - 9, Watkins - 4, Faust - 2, Hoette - 2, Schott - 2, Duncan - 1, Glauber - 1, Rose - 1
Kickouts: Duncan - 1, Entwistle - 1, Meara - 1
Saves: Hoette - 13

POTGs: Hoette and Rose

Up Next: Lindbergh Invite this weekend

Chaminade 8 - Parkway North 4

If you look up the definition of "Tale of Two Halves", you will see a box score of this game. The Red Devils played one of their best halves of the year in the first half of this matchup, entering the second half up 6-0. North's big 2M Ross Knight was neutralized by the tremendous play of our 2M guards Faust, Entwistle and Duncan and our offense was patient, taking only premium shots.

The wheels fell off in the second half as Chaminade relaxed, abandoned the defensive game plan and forced shots from the perimeter. In the 3rd quarter, the Vikings of Parkway North scored three goals from the left wing that had been vacated by a Red Devil defender trying to steal a hole pass. Our boys know, as do our parents, that making mistake is okay, but it's repeating that mistake which frustrates your coach.

Things that went right:

• 2M defense
• Everything in the first half

Things that went not so right:

• Playing too low in the water, especially in the second half
• Offensive patience in the second half, including shot selection
• Leaving the wing on defense...in the second half

Goals: Kubik - 4, Benage - 2, Duncan - 1, Meara - 1

Assists: Stabler - 2, Arnold - 1, Benage - 1, Glauber - 1, Kubik - 1, Meara - 1

Steals: Meara - 3, Stabler - 2, Benage - 1, Entwistle - 1, Faust - 1, Fernandez - 1, Hoette - 1, Kubik - 1

Kickouts: NONE!

Saves: Stabler - 13

Player of the Game: 3-way tie between Danny Faust, Jake Entwistle and Chris Duncan for their stellar 2M defense.

Up Next: The Round Robin stage of the DeSmet Invite at 7:00 PM on Thursday April 10th v. Lindbergh @ Lindbergh. This is a varsity only tournament.

Tonight v. Parkway North

Tonight, the Red Devils of Chamiande will battle with the Parkway North Vikings, one of the four remaining teams with 2 losses or less (Chaminade being one of the four). The JV game will start at 7:00 PM and the varsity game will follow at approximately 8:00 PM. We will have all hands on deck as Sophomore Kevin Glauber is returning to the varsity lineup tonight.

I don't know much about North except for the 2 kids who played for me and what I have heard from other people. I became familiar with Sophomore Marty Ruzicka two summers ago at Jungle Cats and he is a smart player. What he lacks in stature he makes up for in awareness and aggressiveness. On Jungle Cats, he is one of the best 2M guards his age, but I'm not sure how the North coach is using him. Jack Buelter is a sophomore or freshman (I can't remember!) who played for me this winter. Jack was one of my favorites because, like all of our Chaminade boys, he was so coachable. He was a kid that you could tell: "Jack, run thru that brick wall" and he would do it until you asked him to stop. Kevin Arnold is that way too, except only the exact opposite. Kevin tells me to run thru a brick wall.

As far as hearsay, apparently North has a good goalie and a big 2M. The big 2M we can handle (as shown by Fausty's performance against Marquette), but the the good goalie is of some concern as our shot selection and accuracy hasn't been too great of late. But, as long as we take care of business on the defensive end, offense will take care of itself. I've said it before, you can't force offense because it's something you can't control. What you can control is your effort on the defensive end, which is our strength.

This will be a good game. North has some pretty good bleachers, so please come out and support the Boys in Red. We need more cowbell. See you there.

Starters for Varsity:
#1 Blake Stabler
#2 Jack Benage (c)
#3 Michael Kubik
#4 Jack Meara
#5 Kevin Arnold (c)
#8 Danny Faust
#9 Peter Hoette