by Parma Heights, OH- After losing to Southeast Ravenna Friday Night, Holy Name bounced back to take down Benedictine 16-3 behind hat-tricks from Xavier Rodriguez, Phoenix Heygi, Tommy Ontko, and Andrew Norris.
It only took 38 seconds for HN to score their opener as Rodriguez slotted home a solo goal. The Bengals’ defense started to settle in as the Green Wave were denied many opportunities to score. This defense was led by former Namer Athens Fischer who transferred to Benedictine after his sophomore year. Just over five minutes into the first, Heygi found the back of the net to extend the Namer lead. Around three minutes later, Rodriguez once again scored to give the Green and White a 3-0 lead. Two minutes and one second later, Ontko scored his first goal of the game. Heading into the second, HN lead 4-0.
Norris would open the scoring for Holy Name in the second as he found the back of the net 60 seconds in. 44 seconds later, Heygi scored his second goal of the contest. Benedictine finally found their opener with 5:20 left to play in the first half courtesy of Wyatt Toth. 32 seconds later, Rodriguez completed his hat-trick. With just under 2:30 to play in the first half, Norris scored his second goal of the frame to give Holy Name an 8-1 lead at the half.
It took the Green Wave a few minutes, but the goals returned in the second half as Rodriguez scored following a pass from fellow sophomore Heygi. Toth replied for Benedictine with a long-range goal. Just under three minutes later, Rodriguez would score his fifth and final goal of the contest. After today, his season statsheet now reads: 30 goals, 10 assists, and 7 hat-tricks in seven games. If Rodriguez keeps this form up, he will be set to break some Holy Name goal scoring records. With 5:22 to play in the third, Ontko scored his second goal of the game. Heygi found his third goal of the game with 3:25 left to play in the quarter. With 46 seconds left, Norris scored his third goal of the game. This goal would be the the 13th of the contest, beating the prior season high of 12 goals in a game set against Elyria Catholic and Keystone. Heading into the final quarter, it was all HN as they led 13-2.
For the first time all game, the Bengals scored the first goal of a quarter. Toth found De’Chaun Mathis to cut the Namer led to 10. With just under seven minutes to play in regulation, Norris found the back of the net once again. Ontko would complete his hat-trick with 2:26 on the clock. The final goal of the game came from an unlikely player, Sean Smith. The senior began the year as a manager but has earned his way onto the roster. In his home debut, he took the ball on a solo run and scored after being tripped up. He most likely would not have even shot the ball if his teammates on the sidelines were not telling him to. The Namer bench erupted as this goal sealed the 16-3 win.
Holy Name finds themselves with a 5-2 record heading into a tough week that starts with a trip to Canton Central Catholic Wednesday night. Benedictine, now 1-7, will host West Geauga on Monday night as they look to get back to winning ways.
Benedictine Key Players
#10 Wyatt Toth: 2 Goals, 1 Assist
#19 De’Chaun Mathis: 1 Goal
Holy Name Key Players
#1 Peter Rose: 18 Saves
#4 Xavier Rodriguez: 5 Goals, 2 Assists
#8 Tommy Ontko: 3 Goals
#10 Phoenix Heygi: 3 Goals, 2 Assists
#16 Andrew Norris: 4 Goals, 1 Assist
Player of the Game: Xavier Rodriguez
