Cool heads prevail

Jacobs defenseman Ed Weine (center) skates toward the goal Thursday during the Golden Eagles’ 6-4 win against St. Ignatius in AHAI Blackhawk Cup White Division State Tournament play Thursday at The Edge in Bensenville. (Jeff Krage – For the Northwest Herald)

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Bensenville – As frustrating as it was that a three-goal lead had evaporated, Jacobs defenseman Ed Weine sensed more calm than panic in the locker room between the second and third periods.

“Everyone just gathered themselves,” Weine said. “We had a fresh start in the third period.”

The Golden Eagles got back on track with a pair of goals and strong goaltending from Buzzy Amann to beat St. Ignatius, 6-4, in their AHAI Blackhawk Cup White Division State Tournament game Thursday at The Edge.

Jacobs (25-19-4) advances to the White Division semifinals at 5:05 p.m. March 13 against Highland Park.

Jacobs defenseman Joseph Swanson scored on a shot from the left point early in the third period to give the Eagles a 5-4 lead. With 2:34 remaining, Kyle McHale scored his second goal of the game to help seal the win.

The Eagles built a 4-1 lead in the second period behind a pair of goals from Matt Nulle, but the Wolf Pack (6-22) came back with three goals by the 5:25 mark.

“We got into a funk and started running around playing too much one-man hockey,” Nulle said. “In the third period we spread it out, moved the puck well and put more shots on net.”

Amann was credited with 16 saves for the game.

“We had the momentum after scoring three straight goals,” St. Ignatius coach Joe Gotfryd said. “The other team beat us to the puck in some instances [in the third period]. Their goalie played really well and came out to cut down the angles.”

Swanson’s go-ahead goal came with Nulle screening St. Ignatius goalie Jonathan Gavron. Amann, who made some crucial saves early in the game with the Wolf Pack applying pressure, came up big again in the third. With 8:53 remaining in the game, he deflected the puck, which fluttered over his head toward the goal line. Weine helped him secure it just before it crossed the line.

“It was very close,” Amann said. “Ed jumped in and helped me on that one. You just want to keep the time winding down and you know if nothing gets past you, you’ll win the game.”

McHale had two assists to go with his two goals. Justin Kloiber also scored, and Weine had three assists for the Eagles, who led, 3-1, after the first period.

“I liked the beginning, but we got that three-goal lead and pulled up,” Jacobs coach Chip Anderson said. “That woke us up. We just weren’t playing good positional hockey in our defensive zone. Buzzy saved us in the first period, he was a little shaky in the second, but he was seeing a lot of pucks, it wasn’t all his fault. He shut them down in the third.”