Bishop Ireton knew they had a tall order last winter when DeMatha was announced as the Cardinals opening game opponent. The Stags, stunned by O’Connell last season in the conference semifinals, are anxious to return to the top of the WCAC hill. They stepped off in great fashion with a convincing 6-0 win in Alexandria Tuesday.
The bigger, faster Stags controlled play for much of the contest though Ireton played hard. “We played a very good team with few, if any, weaknesses. The effort was there, the execution, particularly in our own end, wasn’t.” commented first year coach Jon Norem (class of 89), with senior goalkeeper Arthur Deegan’s seven saves as evidence of the work in the defensive zone.
DeMatha got on the board with 18:23 gone in the first stanza with a goal from senior James Rice. Ireton countered briefly following the goal but Cody Albrecht made the Stags’ lead 2-0 with breakaway speed that would plague the Cardinals throughout the afternoon. Junior Ben Fleri made it 3-0 going into intermission and the tone for afternoon was set.
A defensive miscue by Ireton resulted in James Rice’s second goal of the day in second half and junior Gabe Phillips and sophomore Vincent Conti rounded out the day for DeMatha. Stags assistant head coach, Tom Park liked the Hyattsville squad’s effort. “We challenged the team to start the season well and they did. Our young players stepped up and played well, with Chris Hegngi graduated there is a lot of offense to replace.” DeMatha faces off with Good Counsel Friday while the Cardinals will travel to RFK Auxiliary Field to play the Eagles of Gonzaga. The Stags tackle Gonzaga next Monday while Ireton will travel north the Olney to try Good Counsel on Tuesday.
DeMatha leveled the Cardinals in the nightcap affair, 7-0, after building a slim 1-0 halftime avantage in the JV season opener for both schools.
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