ROCKY RIVER — Things looked extremely bleak for Elyria Catholic on Dec. 9 when the Panthers fell to 1-2 in the Red Division after a loss to North Olmsted.
EC was practically left for dead when Walsh Jesuit slapped an 8-4 defeat on the Panthers, dropping them to 4-3 and third place in the division.
But Elyria Catholic took care of business, won its last three games and stamped its ticket to the Baron Cup tournament a week from now. The clincher came Sunday as EC topped Avon Lake 6-2 in a Red South game at Hamilton Arena.
EC (14-10-1 overall) ended 7-3 in Red Division play, a game ahead of Walsh Jesuit. The Panthers won two league games this weekend while Walsh, which would have claimed a Baron Cup spot via a tiebreaker, lost Saturday to North Olmsted in overtime. The 9-1 victory by Walsh over Benedictine on Sunday proved meaningless because of EC’s win.
Richie Baker was perhaps the biggest reason EC made it to the Baron Cup as one of two teams from the Red South. Baker scored four goals, three in the first period as EC built a 4-0 lead, and assisted on another.
“He put the team on his shoulders,” EC coach Dave Phiel said of Baker. “He played like he really wanted to get us to the Baron Cup. There’s a reason Rich is a top scorer in the league, and he showed it tonight. He was focused tonight and finished his senior year of league play in fine fashion.
“A month and a half ago it didn’t look too good. Everyone was counting us out. Our division was really tight this year and we’re proud of the guys.”
Avon Lake (7-18-1 overall) ended with a 1-9 record in the Red Division.
“It was a better effort tonight,” Avon Lake coach Brent Figueira said. “It was better than our last game (an 8-8 tie with Amherst), and better than the last time we played them (an 8-0 loss). I would have liked to have taken more shots. We can’t win when we’re outshot like that. Their shots were in double-figures every period.”
EC took 48 shots to 22 for the Shoremen.
Baker got his first goal, and the Panthers’ first, after launching a hard slap shot from the top of the right circle that whizzed by goalie Bryan Emery’s hip. Baker scored again 3:22 later. EC’s first two goals were on power-plays.
“We wanted to jump on them early and the power plays set the tone,” Phiel said. “Baker just fired a cannon shot on the first goal. Not too many goalies will stop that.”
Baker’s third goal came with 2:08 to play in the first. Brent Zifcak scored the fourth goal of the opening period with 1:24 remaining.
“We were shooting well and keeping the puck low,” Phiel added. “Our defense did a good job at the blue line, keeping the puck in the other end.”
Avon Lake showed some life in the second period on a pair of scores by Michael Dillon. The first goal came with 9:06 to play in the second. Dillon made it 4-2 on a power-play goal 7:26 into the period. Baker, however, answered 11 seconds later by skating through the Shoremen’s defense and knocking in No. 4 for the game.
Pat DeSouza, who had three assists, got the only goal of an uneventful third period at the 7:21 mark.

Elyria Catholic 6, Avon Lake 2

Elyria Catholic  4          1          1 – 6
Avon Lake      0          2          0 – 2
FIRST PERIOD: 1. EC, Richie Baker (Chris Andrews, Justin Saunders), 4:51; 2. EC, Richie Baker (Pat DeSouza, Brad Kelley), 7:29; 3. EC, Richie Baker (Justin Saunders, Pat DeSouza), 12:52l 4. Brent Zifcak (Chris Andrews, Cody Toboz), 13:36. Penalties – AL, Michael Dillon (tripping), 3:39; AL, Adam Robertson (interference), 7:12.
SECOND PERIOD: 1. AL, Michael Dillon (Scott Shaffer), 5:54; 2. AL, Michael Dillon (Adam Robertson), 7:26; 5. Richie Baker (Patrick DeSouza), 7:37. Penalties – EC, Brent Zifcak (elbowing), 6:05; AL, Scott Shaffer (boarding), 10:15; EC, Kevin Andrews (interference), 13:55.
THIRD PERIOD: 6. Pat DeSouza (Richie Baker, Justin Saunders), 7:21. Penalty – EC, Mike Petroff (tripping), 3:56.
Shots on goal – Elyria Catholic 21-14-13—48, Avon Lake 6-7-9—22. Goalies – EC, Brad Moore (22 shots, 20 saves); AL, Bryan Emery (48 shots, 42 saves). Power-play opportunities – Elyria Catholic 2 of 3, Avon Lake 1 of 3.
 
 
 
   

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