Hat tricks by Kavanagh, Mahon lift Chaminade

After watching St. Anthony's score a brilliant fast-break goal on a pass from Tom Schreiber to Colin Clive with 1.6 seconds left in the first quarter for a 4-1 advantage, Chaminade attack Matt Kavanagh had one thought: "It's still early."

Fortunately for Kavanagh and the Flyers, it wasn't too late. Host Chaminade, before a standing-room-only crowd, scored seven straight goals beginning 14 seconds into the second quarter and defeated St. Anthony's, 14-8, Tuesday in a clash of the CHSAA titans. Both teams are 5-1, and as Kavanagh said, "These are the three biggest games on our schedule."

Juniors Kavanagh and Sean Mahon scored three goals each in their first taste of the Chaminade-St. Anthony's varsity rivalry. "We played some good games as freshmen and on the JV," Mahon said, "but this is a whole different level. We definitely have these games circled on our calendars."

The teams are, by acclaim, the class of the CHSAA, and that's why Kavanagh took a little liberty with his "three biggest games" reference. The Friars and Flyers play again May 13, then are expected to meet in the playoffs. "As far as I'm concerned, it's the best high school rivalry in the country," Chaminade coach Jack Moran said.

It certainly was spirited Tuesday, especially after the Flyers regrouped and got their fans into the game. "We fed off the crowd once we put together that run," Kavanagh said.

Chaminade's defense was effective after the first quarter, locking down everyone except Schreiber (two goals, three assists), whom Moran called "the best middie in the country."

Meanwhile, the Flyers featured a diverse offense. Their 7-0 burst included goals by Mike Quinn, Mahon, Quinn Regan, Will Himler (two goals, three assists), Walt Rooney, Brendan Fowler and Mahon again to make it 8-4 midway through the third quarter.

SEE PHOTOSChaminade 14, St. Anthony's 8

"It felt like we were unstoppable," said Mahon, who had a spectacular man-down goal on a solo dash from behind the net that made it 12-7.

The closest St. Anthony's got was 8-5, but then Kavanagh caught a break, "scraping" a rolling ball past the goalie to restore a four-goal lead. "I got stripped by the defense," Kavanagh said, "and the ball was loose. I just hockey-shot it in."

Moran credited his veteran defense, seniors Mike Ehrhardt and John Urbank, with "playing big time" after the first quarter when "St. Anthony's was in a zone."

"Then we started winning faceoffs and ground balls," Moran said. "We're a lunch-pail group and we're unselfish with the ball. But I didn't feel comfortable until very late because St. Anthony's can get hot. This is just Round 1."