Bishop Watterson Defeats Rival St. Francis DeSales, 6-3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a brisk Wednesday evening I got to attend a rivalry game between two of the top programs in Division II, St. Francis DeSales and Bishop Watterson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defenses for both teams set the tone early, playing aggressively on ball and forcing tough shots and passes. Defenders on both sides were creating turnovers, and both goalies looked sharp throughout the game. Watterson's [player_tooltip player_id='127166' first='Kolt' last='Rundio'] stole the show, recording double-digit saves on some solid shots, showcasing his skills as a freshman. The Eagle's man-down defense was also impressive. They communicated well, moved off-ball, and were hard-nosed, which forced DeSales to take tough shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first quarter ended with DeSales leading 1-0, a score they carried into halftime. The only goal in the first half was a bouncer from [player_tooltip player_id='124506' first='Bryce' last='Herrick'] assisted by [player_tooltip player_id='127168' first='Dominic' last='Cachillo']. The first half saw wide shots and strong defensive stands, with both teams failing to capitalize on man-up opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watterson turned it up after halftime, scoring a goal midway through the third quarter and another near the end of the quarter, with [player_tooltip player_id='127165' first='Andrew' last='Dunlap'] netting his first of three goals that night. It was a scrappy and gritty game, with both offenses being tightly defended, but Watterson managed to wear down DeSales by the end, ultimately winning the game 6-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are my standouts from the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124080"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680060deb5134"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If anyone could be considered an all-around star, it would be Hayes. The defenseman made plays on offense, defense, and during transitions. He looked like the fastest player on the field and had no trouble running the length of it. Defensively, he was unbeatable, knocking the ball to the ground multiple times with his checks and locking-down whoever he encountered. Offensively, he was aggressive with the ball in his stick and found a few shooting opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127166"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680060deb517b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rundio showcased impressive reactions and a calm demeanor on Wednesday night. He consistently stepped up for the Eagles, playing an important role in their defensive success. He made several big saves while the team was playing man-down, using his quick hands and patience. Keep an eye on this freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127165"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":127228,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6800302059f54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dunlap scored three goals and was elusive when he had ball. He capitalized on his chances and looked comfortable under pressure, using his field vision to make big plays down the stretch. He's got a solid arm and can rip a shot with short notice. At the end of the game, he helped seal the victory while also energizing his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127167"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680060deb51bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McGee stood out for his impressive size and power. The 6'5" defenseman was solid throughout the night and knew where to position himself, active both on and off-ball. When he was guarding the ball, he played aggressively, matching feet and delivering strong stick checks. Offensive players had a difficult time passing the ball around him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127168"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680060deb51f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cachillo was one of the fastest players on the field, creating space and forcing slides whenever he had the ball. The lefty utilizes a quick change of direction and a slick split dodge to get around his defenders. He tallied one goal and one assist for the Stallions and was an integral part of their offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127169"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680060deb5236"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Faulkner was aggressive at the right moments and executed his checks effectively, resulting in a handful of caused turnovers. He matched the pace of the players he was guarding and sustained an active pace on the defensive end. I was impressed with his performance during man-down situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124506"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":127230,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680060deb5272"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Herrick was another player who was active all over the field in this game. He competed well at the faceoff X and looked sharp on offense, showcasing his speed and shot power. He scored the opening goal of the game with a well-placed bounce shot into the high corner off a feed. He was a workhorse for the Stallions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->