Lourdes Downs IT in CCLA Quarters
SYLVANIA, Ohio -- No. 11 Lourdes built an early lead, saw Indiana Tech rally for a lead after three quarters before using a strong fourth quarter to defeat the No. 20 Warriors 18-16 at Wildcat Stadium in the quarterfinals of the CCLA tournament.
"Today we fought hard the entire game and were able to weather the storm," said Lourdes coach Patrick Yannarelli. "We showed a lot of heart and desire in the fourth quarter and we had a great effort with our seniors and attack. It was a great team effort and we are very proud of them."
The Gray Wolves wasted little time jumping on the scoreboard as Danny Bichsel (Westerville, Ohio/North) scored just 11 seconds into the game. Lourdes scored with 18 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, as well, to build a 4-2 advantage after 15 minutes.
Jared Yoshino (Toledo, Ohio/Southview) scored five times in the second quarter for Lourdes, helping the hosts build a 9-4 advantage with 3:08 to play before halftime. Indiana Tech scored twice before halftime to pull within three at the break.
The Warriors added three goals in the first 2:07 of the third quarter to knot the game at nine before Bichsel ended the run with 9:36 remaining in the period. The two sides traded goals, and Lourdes held a 12-11 lead when Indiana Tech scored back-to-back goals just 23 seconds apart to take its first lead of the game, 13-12, heading into the final quarter.
Bichsel scored twice to ignite five straight goals in just seven minutes for Lourdes to open the final quarter and the Gray Wolves were able to withstand the Warrior rally and earn their 13th victory of the season.
Yoshino finished the game with seven goals while Bichsel scored four times and added four helpers. Dalton Vowles (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's) added four goals and three assists while Casey Hilfinger (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne), Tanner Jaramillo (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview), and Nathanel Brown (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo) each contributed a goal. For Brown, it was the first in his collegiate career.
Indiana Tech (5-9) outshot Lourdes 48-46 for the game, but Conner Mishler (Lambertville, Mich./Saint John's) made 15 saves in the cage for the Gray Wolves. Joseph Dosen made 10 stops in the loss for the Warriors.
Yoshino led Lourdes with nine groundballs while Jaramillo added six.
William McKinney led Indiana Tech with six goals while Brian Nichter tallied four more.
Lourdes (13-2) will advance to the CCLA semifinals next Friday at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Gray Wolves will face the winner of Saturday's Lawrence Tech-Siena Heights game beginning at 11 a.m.