Crystal Lake South JV, Varsity Hockey Wins Saturday

The Crystal Lake South varsity hockey team received scoring from all three forward lines as they beat a strong Conant team, 7-3, Saturday night. 

All nine forwards had at least one point in the contest with goals coming from Jake Bigos (2), Pat Taucher (2), Matt Kinker, Shane Gustafson and Jamie Stortz.

The Gators came out flying, scoring on the first shift of the game when Jordan Ross chipped a puck up the boards to center Joey Bower who beat the Conant defense wide and then found Bigos in front for an easy tap in goal.

The goal was Bigos 100th career varsity point. Nick Demaria scored for Conant to tie the score on a power play goal with 5:01 remaining in the first period.

The tied score was short lived and the Gators broke away for good with two goals in a time span of 54 seconds when Kinker walked in from the left side and beat the Conant net minder, Sean Henry, high with the go a head goal.  

Less than a minute later, Kinker found Gustafson in the high slot for a one-timer.Much of the second period was scoreless until Taucher lifted a back hand into the high corner of the net to extend the lead to 4-1.

Conant didn't quit though, scoring with 1:07 left in the period on a goal from Michael Petrey, which sent the teams to the locker room at 4-2.

After a rough first shift in the 3rd period which saw South's Adam Wiese come up with several key saves, the tandem of Bower and Bigos combined to extend the lead to 5-2. 

Bower, moving up the right boards found a streaking Bigos who went in all alone and stick handled Henry down and out before tapping the puck into the net.

Kevin Scheer responded for Conant to cut the lead to 2, but late goals from Taucher and Stortz put the game out of reach. Max Rudolph, a late addition to the varsity team, had 3 assists in the game.

The victory improved the Gators record to 20-9-2 overall and a league leading 12-1 in Metro Central.Wiese stopped 30 shots in the game for the Gators and Henry turned aside 32 for Conant.

South is back in action tonight at home Sunday against Naperville North. 

JV Crystal Lake South Hockey Club

In the early game, the Gator JV team took advantage of hot goaltending from Danny McSweeney to beat Deerfield, 2-1 in a Metro Invitational Tournament game Saturday. 

South got goals from Andrew Szocka (assisted by Trevor Price) and Ryan Edwards (assisted by his brother Brennen). 

McSweeney had 26 saves in the game, the most crucial coming with the score 2-1 and 5:50 remaining in the 3rd perior. 

Deerfield's Corey Gitlin exited the penalty box and received a breakout pass which sent him in all alone. McSweeney threw out a pad in desperation which saved what looked like a sure tying goal. 

The Gator JV is back in action Monday night at home against Libertyville in a Metro Central league game.

Source: Crystal Lake South Hockey Club