Lumen Christi Catholic High School hockey player Andrew Varner winds up for a shot during a game Saturday night at Optimist Ice Arena. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Lumen Christi Catholic High School goalie Gavin Warner is quick to remind his coach he is 3-0 against rivals from Jackson United.
Make that 4-0.
Warner stopped 18 shots as the Titans scored a 4-1 win in front of a large crowd at Optimist Ice Arena on Saturday.
The win gives the Titans an 8-1 record while JU falls to 2-8.
LCCHS Coach Mike Wartella said Warner came up big as the Titans were a step slow to start the game.
“We made a lot of dumb decisions and were a step behind in the first period,” Wartella said. “Jackson had a couple of scoring chances early and he (Warner) came up big for us.”
Five years ago, Warner was not thinking about the sport of hockey. He broke a bone in his leg and said it was a major setback in his hockey career.
But he always seems to come up big against Jackson.
“It is good to know that I am one of the only goalies in our history not to lose to Jackson United,” Warner said. “We started slow which puts a lot more pressure on me … but we figured it out.”
Warner said he is not sure if he wants to play college hockey next season. The senior rotates in goal with fellow senior Lucas Henderson.
Lumen Christi scored late in the first period after outshooting Jackson 7-2. Matt Mogle scored the first goal for the Titans at the 3:03 mark.
The Titans scored twice in the second period taking a 3-0 lead at that point. Goals were scored by Ben Lefere and Owen Campbell. Assists were issued to Brett Terry, Kavin Kennedy, Andrew Varner, and Drew Miotke on the goals for the Titans.
Jackson United senior Aaron Palmer scored as time expired in the second period on an unassisted goal. The Vikings trailed 3-1 at that point.
Kennedy scored the only goal of the third period for the Titans on assists by Miotke and Tim Lefere.
The Titans outshot Jackson 25-19 in the contest.
JU goalie Barrett Roe stopped 21 shots in the contest.
