By Dan McCarty • Posted December 22, 2016

A strong start by St. Joseph’s Prep led the way to a 11-3 win over Cardinal O’Hara in Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL) action on Monday, Dec. 19 at the Skatium in Havertown, Delaware County.

“We came out pretty fast and capitalized on our chances,” said St. Joseph’s Prep head coach David Giacomin. “That set the tone.”

The Prep improved its overall record to 6-3 on the season with the win while O’Hara evened to 3-3.

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After the first two minutes of action, the Hawks picked up their momentum as forward Conor Ryan scored off a feed by forward Maxwell Ricciardelli. Thirteen seconds later, Ryan went for another goal with Ricciardelli assisting once again. Teammate and forward Demitrios Stefanou extended the Prep’s lead to 3-0 with forward Mark Centrella providing the assist. Forward Jason Miles scored unassisted with five minutes left in the opening period. Defender Tyler Black found the net to give his team a 5-0 advantage at the end of the stanza.

O’Hara gradually settled down on both offense and defense as the second period progressed. Forward Liam McCanney scored off an assist by defender Nick Donato to put the Lions on the scoreboard. The Prep’s Centrella registered a goal as did forward Marc Colavita and defender Nicholas Urbani.

O’Hara’s Donato found the net late in the period for the Lions’ second goal.

“We went back to our game plan (in the second) period,” said Cardinal O’Hara head coach Ed Banes. “We were able to get the puck out.”

O’Hara forward Justin Boornazian scored early in the third period with McCanney picking up the assist. The Hawks stopped the Lions for the remainder of regulation. Stefanou, Urbani and forward Ryan Gill added one goal apiece before time expired. Teammate and forward Daniel Stahl finished with two assists.

“Each line was attacking with a lot of pressure,” said Giacomin. “We’re a fast team.”

Goalkeeper Gianni D’Angelo paced the Hawks’ defense.

“We were solid on defense,” said Giacomin. “We got a little complacent in the second period. The Lions got their goals.”

Leading the way on defense for O’Hara was goalkeeper Angelo Losardo.

“We need to work on our defensive zone and getting the puck out,” said Banes. “Once we do that, we’ll be good to go.”

Both O’Hara and the Prep are set to return to action after the holiday break and begin the new year on a positive note.

“If we play as hard as we did during tonight’s first period for all of regulation, we’ll be in good shape,” said Giacomin. “We need that consistency.”