Comeback Falls Short For Lutheran South In Wick Cup Final

SCOTTRADE CENTER -- There was hardly a dry eye in the house as the team members of the Lutheran South Hockey Club left the ice following Wednesday's Mid-States Hockey Association Wickenheiser Cup championship game against rival Whitfield High.

The Lancers had proven themselves worthy of a championship by overcoming deficits on four different occasions on Wednesday, but unfortunately, weren't able to do it a fifth time, and lost their bid for their first state hockey title, 6-5, to their rivals from West County.

"It was a hard-fought game," South head coach Dan Bertarelli said. "I'm so proud how these kids just fought back time and again. I really thought we were going to get one in overtime, but we never did."

Neither team could score in the extra session, despite numerous opportunities for both.

So the game boiled down to an overtime shootout period, in which both teams got three chances to score on a one-on-one breakaway against the opposing goalkeeper, with the team with the most goals earning the victory.

Whtifield only managed to score one goal in the shootout, which came by way of senior Hunt Lucas' mad rush to the net that bowled over South goalkeeper Taylor Rhodes.

But that one score proved to be enough, as each of the three Lutheran South shooters misfired on their chances, which gave Whitfield the win and that school's second Wickenheiser Cup championship in its history.

"You have to credit the kids on both teams," Whitfield head coach Jim Campbell said. "Both sides just played their hearts out. That game was right there for either side to take, and it's just a testament to these kids here that they were able to pull that out. I'm just so proud of them."

The game-winning goal was Lucas' second of the night, and ended a marathon contest that included several play-of-the-year-type moments that each were somehow topped by the one that came after it.

Whitfield led 1-0, 2-1, 4-2, and 5-4, and each time Lutheran South had an answer, somehow finding a way to tie the score.

The Lancers trailed by two goals heading into the third period, but roared back to tie, thanks to a pair of sensational goals by Zack Beining and Chris Hill that made the score 4-4 midway through the period.

Then after Whitfield took the lead with 2:21 left on a goal by junior Marty Rubin, Lutheran South's Chris Hill, who had three goals and an assist on the night, found teammate Zack Beining all alone in front of the net to tie the score again with 2:00 remaining.

"I really thought it was going to be our night when we tied it that time," Bertarelli said. "These kids just don't quit. There's no quit in them. I'm just proud of the way the played and fought for each other tonight."

Lutheran South finished its year with a 19-9-1 record, one of the best seasons ever in program history.      

"We had a fantastic year," Bertarelli said. "The kids were great. They worked hard all year, and did everything we asked them to do. "I told them, they have nothing to hold their heads about tonight.

"We have our team banquet in a couple of weeks and I'm sure it'll be all smiles that night. But tonight, my kids are just heartbroken. I'm heartbroken too. We were so close."

In the teary eyes of their fans though, one thing was clear, the Lutheran South Lancers proved themselves the champions Wednesday night—no matter what the final score might have been.