Gators draw closer to Cup title

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CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake South’s hockey team is a step closer to playing for the Gator Cup – a trophy the team is trying to capture for a third consecutive season.

The Gators beat Lake Forest, 4-2, on Sunday at Crystal Ice House to advance to the semifinals of the Gator Cup Holiday Tournament. South (27-10-3) will play Jacobs at 12:20 p.m. today, with the winner advancing to the championship game at 8 p.m.

The possibility of having to win twice in the same day to win the title wasn’t something South coach Rich Perillo was concerned about after beating Lake Forest.

“We’re used to that (playing twice in a day),” Perillo said. “Our guys are in great physical shape and will be ready.”

South senior goalie Eric Bartos was solid in net, stopping 27 of 29 Lake Forest shots. He made 12 saves in the third period, including several shots that were deflected or came through screens.

After allowing the Scouts to take a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game, Bartos stopped the next 24 shots he faced, and the Gators built a 4-1 lead late into the third period.

“You try to play the game as fluently as possible, but it’s natural to get a little amped up after you give up an early goal (like tonight),” Bartos said.

After Lake Forest took a 1-0 first period lead, the momentum quickly changed after South killed off a Scouts power play.

Gators junior defenseman Mike Kernan (goal, assist) scored at the 5:32 on a power-play blast from just inside the blue line, tying the score, 1-1, with his first goal of the season.

“If we play the same game as we did tonight, we can definitely win the Cup,” Kernan said.

In the second, South sophomore Joey Bower (goal, assist) slapped in a rebound goal just more than two minutes into the period, making it 2-1. It was a lead the Gators would hold the rest of the night. More importantly, it seemed to kill any momentum Lake Forest had and forced the Scouts to take more chances in the neutral zone.

“It just feels great to help this team out in a big way,” Bower said. “I didn’t know how big of an impact I could have on the varsity squad. That goal just felt big.” 

The Gators added goals from Eric Purcell (goal, assist) and Chris Hollich before giving up a late power-play tally for a 4-2 final. South finished 1 for 3 on the power play. Lake Forest finished 1 for 6 with the man advantage.

Play became physical in the third period when several misconduct penalties were called on each team while South held a 4-1 lead.

“It was a great, physical game, and we know there’s going to be games like these,” Perillo said.

If South and Lake Forest win their respective games today, the teams would meet again for the Gator Cup title. Lake Forest plays Glacier at 2 p.m. today at the Crystal Ice House, with the winner playing either South or Jacobs in the evening.