Chin goal lifts Cardinals on Senior Night, 5-4

Freshman Jonathan Chin (68) scored the gamewinner Friday night on Senior Night at the Mount Vernon Rec Center

On a night devoted to the recognition of Bishop Ireton’s seniors, it was a Cardinal rookie, burly Jonathan Chin, that scored the game winner for Coach Tony DiCarlo’ squad in a 5-4 backyard brawl with neighboring St Stephens/St Agnes (9-6) at the Mt Vernon Recreation Center Friday night before a record standing-room only crowd.

In a hard hitting contest, the Cardinals (4-6-1) grabbed an early lead when Stephen Gerke scored the first of three goals late in the opening period to stake Ireton to a 1-0 lead. The Saints’ J. Boden would tie it at 1-1 at the 12:59 mark gone in the period, only to see Ireton’s Duke Roach put the redbirds back on top 48 seconds later.

Early in the second, Gerke was awarded a penalty shot following a Saints’ defender covering the puck in the St Stephen’s crease. While the Cardinal was foiled on his one-on-one attempt, he took care of business seconds later with a slapshot from the right circle to build the home team’s margin to 3-1 at 2:20 gone in the second.

St Stephens countered with 13:13 gone in the second period when junior Jones Veith scored the first of two goals the Saint would tally on the evening to make it a 3-2 game. 63 seconds later the Saints would tie the game at 3-3 after two periods. Bishop Ireton had a 24-10 unofficial advantage in shots on goal, but the final period saw the teams open even on the scoreboard.

Saints senior captain Drew Nirenburg would give the Saints their first and only lead of the night in the 4th minute of play in the third at 4-3, but Gerke responded with just over 7 minutes remaining the contest with his third goal of the night and set the table for Jonathan Chin’s heroics.

With the Cardinals controlling the puck and playing in the St Stephens end for extended periods, the momentum was clearly in the home team’s corner. As the Saints battled to clear the puck, Chin rifled a wrist shot into the net with 5:42 remaining and brought the overflow Ireton faithful to their feet with a loud roar of approval.

Ireton would take a penalty moments later, but the defense, led by shot-blocking defenseman Will Chastain, and the strong play in net by Mulockey preserved the senior night win for the Cardinals.

Prior to the game, the Cardinals recognized five graduating seniors from the program, now in it’s 15th varsity season on Cambridge Road. Team captain Nick Tangora, a four-year letter winner, Chastain, another 4-year veteran and assistant captain, as well as assistant captain, defenseman Joey Gorman, a two-year letterwinner, and defenseman Jacob Bisnett, a two-time letter winner. Stepping up when an experienced goalie was unavailable to the club, senior Michaela Mulokey earned her first varsity letter this campaign in her initial season as a keeper. The gritty netminder was no stranger to the role, however, playing keeper for the varsity soccer and lacrosse team before lacing on skates for the Cardinals.