Libertyville/Vernon Hills ties Barrington
The combined Libertyville/Vernon Hills High School hockey team pulled off the unthinkable, tying undefeated Barrington 3-3 on Friday.
Brendan Collins' goal midway through the third period was the equalizer for the Ice Cats.
"The fans were really into it and kept us pumped up throughout the game," Collins said.
Visiting Barrington jumped out to 2-0 lead on goals from Taylor Pierce and Matt Dunbar. Ice Cats co-captain P.J. Marsek then closed the gap. Collins passed the puck to Marsek, who fired a rocket wrist shot that went over the shoulder of Barrington goalie Mitch Saviola.
Barrington quickly responded with another goal from Dunbar and led 3-1 after one period.
But the Ice Cats refused to go away, as senior winger Chris Jungmann scored a power-play goal on a blistering wrist shot from the circle in the second period. Defenseman Michael Lauber assisted on the play.
"I saw a narrow opening and the goalie was screened so I went for it," Jungmann said. "What an amazing game to play in."
The only negative in the middle period for Libertyville/Vernon Hills was assistant captain Tyler "T-Bone" Wonderlic spraining his ankle.
Ice Cats sophomore goalie Erich Held stopped 35 of 38 shots.
The Ice Cats drew even at the 9:47 mark of the third period when Collins took a pass from Marsek and blasted a slap shot past a screened Saviola, as Jungmann was credited with an assist.
"This was one of the finest team efforts I've seen and one of the most exciting games I've ever coached," said Ice Cats coach Efren Heredia.
With an 8-0 win over St. Patrick on Sunday, the Ice Cats improved to 11-7-1.
Stevenson 3, Glenbrook North 2: Myles Lobus scored with 4:09 remaining and the host Patriots held on to upset the state's top-ranked team Saturday.
Ricky Razdolsky opened the scoring at the 13:03 mark of the first period on assists from Lobus and Kevin Welter. After the Spartans tied the score at 1-1, Kollin Fairbanks put the Patriots ahead again with an assist from Matt Levey.
Glenbrook North tied the game on a power-play goal at the start of the third period. Patriots goalie Mitch Levinson stopped 24 of Glenbrook North's 26 shots on goal, while Stevenson took 31 shots on net. Stevenson, which has only lost once in its last 10 games, improved to 15-11-3, 7-4-3 in the Metro North. Glenbrook North is 13-1-1 in the Metro North.