By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

Bad news for the rest of the WCAC. St. Mary’s Ryken’s Zach Angel may be starting to hit his stride.

The senior attackman known throughout the conference has struggled against double and triple teams for much of the season but broke out for five goals and six assists in St. Mary’s Ryken’s 16-6 win over Ireton in Monday’s quarterfinals.

“He’s doing pretty well,” St. Mary’s Ryken coach John Sothoron said. “No complaints here.”

While Kyle Yates, who posted three goals and two assists, also had a fine day for the Knights, who went 7-2 in the WCAC regular season, Sothoron was quite pleased with his defense.

The Knights lost all four defensemen from last year’s WCAC-championship squad, but Kyle Nazaruk, Chris Rixey and Kevin Worcester have stepped up this season and particularly Monday. As evidence, St. Mary’s Ryken goalie Andrew Wascavage only had to make five saves.

“The defense did a heck of a job,” Sothoron said. “They just kept them out. Those guys have come a long way.”

St. Mary’s Ryken will host Good Counsel, who beat the Knights in Olney earlier this season, Thursday at 4 p.m. in the WCAC semifinals.


DeMatha 16, St. John’s 1

The Stags celebrated senior day on Monday since their regular-scheduled event was rained out last week. And boy did the Stags put on a show for their parents, beating St. John’s 16-1 at home.

Senior Shane Ryznar had three goals and three assists, senior Mike Smail notched two goals and four assists, senior Stephen Tepsick had two goals and an assist and sophomore Phil Poe tallied two goals and an assist. They were the only multiple goal-scorers.

DeMatha is still unbeaten in the WCAC this season and is looking to win the championship after St. Mary’s Ryken ended its eight-year title run.

“It was our senior day so it was a nice win,” DeMatha coach Scott Pugh said.


Good Counsel 13, O’Connell 8

Senior Jimmy Bitonti lead Good Counsel to a 13-8 win over O'Connell that wasn't as close as the final score indicates. Bitonti scored four goals, including three in the first half. Sophomore Sean Wright scored one goal and added an assist and Patrick Durkin and Bryce Dabbs each notched two goals.

The Falcons were up 2-1 at one point early in the game but rattled off five straight goals to take and 7-1 lead into halftime. Good Counsel, who was part of the three-way tie at 7-2 in the WCAC, was leading O’Connell, 11-3, heading into the fourth quarter before pulling the starters. The Falcons beat O’Connell, 12-7, during the regular season.

Good Counsel now gets a rematch with St. Mary’s Ryken in Leonardtown.

“We’re very excited,” Durkin said. “We like the way we match up against them. We really don’t mind travelling down that way. … I like the fact that we’re travelling. We’re not going to take it for granted that we’re at home or take it for granted that we beat them. It’s going to put us on edge. I like that.”


Gonzaga 9, Paul VI 7

After a back-and-forth first half in which Gonzaga took a one-goal lead at halftime, the Eagles rattled off four straight goals to take control of their quarterfinal game against Paul VI.

Despite a Paul VI rally in the final minutes, Gonzaga held on for a 9-7 win and will now face top-seeded DeMatha on Thursday.

“You’ve got to beat the best and they’re the best to win this thing, so we’re excited,” Gonzaga coach Casey O’Neill said.

Gonzaga, who also was 7-2 in the WCAC entering the game, was lead on offense by senior attackman Joe Johnson, who netted a goal and five assists. Junior midfielder Taylor Hanley notched two goals, both during the four-goal run, and an assist and sophomore Chris May continued his stellar work at faceoffs, winning 16-of-20.

“He’s been the standout of the year for us,” O’Neill said.

Junior Kevin Shey and sophomore Jacob Ruffing had the other goals in Gonzaga’s decisive run. Goalie Conor Baucum made 13 saves.