Hat Trick, Heart Lift Lakers Past U-D Jesuit

All agreed—the Lakers wanted it more.

The St. Clair Shores Unified hockey team played their hearts out in the Division 1 pre-regional semifinal game and defeated U-D Jesuit (6-18) Monday night 3-1. 

It was clear that the Lakers (11-10-3 overall) took the ice focused and ready to play.

“I think we just wanted it more and our team’s will was stronger then U-D’s,” Lakers assistant coach Russ DiCristofaro said. “We didn’t hold back, we had nothing to lose. Whenever you play a team from the MIHL, the best league in the state, you know you are the underdog. We scouted them, we knew what to do and we had a game plan that we executed.”

U-D Jesuit coach Rick Bennetts agreed that desire was the difference in the game. Unfortunately for him, it was coming from the other bench.

“They wanted it more than we did and they out-hustled us,” said Bennetts. “They executed their game plan better then we did. They are a gritty team that just works and works and works. You have to give them credit for the win.”

Lakers senior Steven Soloway shined brightly on the night as he picked the perfect night to nail his first hat trick of the season.

St. Clair Shores opened the night’s scoring with 7:28 remaining in the first period. Soloway received a smart pass from behind the goal from freshman Austin Lane and quite calmly placed the puck into the top right corner to take the lead at 1-0.

Still in the first period and on a power play with 1:34, St. Clair Shores junior Michael DiFranco scored making it 2-0.

Both teams’ will and patience was tested between periods one and two. 

It was realized that the first period lasted a total of 17 minutes instead of the tournament-mandated 15 minutes and this fact sparked a bit of controversy. After a quick call to the MHSAA official, Lakeview’s athletic director Sean Zaborowski announced that since DiFranco’s goal was scored within the two-minute discrepancy, the goal was to be disallowed according to the governing body’s rules.  

After a brief swing of momentum in the Cubs’ favor, St. Clair Shores dug deep and got the goal back. Soloway netted his second at 2:33 with an assist by Joe Vitale.

“I just battled hard, the bounces came my way and I put the puck in the net,” said Soloway. “These were my biggest goals of my season. The second goal felt the best because we were up 2-0 and they took one of the goals away. This was the goal that we got back.”  

“Steven just wouldn’t let us get beat tonight, his will was so strong,” said DiCristofaro. “He had a great game, he was outstanding.”

U-D (6-18 overall) scored a minute later, making the score 2-1 at 1:34 remaining in the second period. Senior David Mannino scored on an assist by Chris Morgan.

In the final period, St. Clair Shores goaltender Bobby Fredal made a number of key saves to keep his team in the lead. He registered 29 saves on the night.

“Bobby was 100 percent focused today,” said DiCristofaro. “In the locker room he wasn’t talking to anybody, he was in the zone and played really well."

With 1:20 left, the Cubs pulls their goalie and Soloway completed his hat trick with 33 seconds left with a dramatic shot that traveled the length of the ice into a empty net.

DiCristofaro praised the overall efforts of senior David Izaguirre.

“Last year we faced U-D and got beat so it feels good to get a little bit of revenge,” said Izaguirre. “We all wanted it, everyone played big and that’s what wins these types of games.”

The Lakers now face Dearborn Heights Crestwood Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena.