Class A QF: #5 St. Cloud Cathedral vs. #4 St. Paul Academy
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 2:09 pm
#5 ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL VS. #4 ST. PAUL ACADEMY
-Two private schools from saintly cities collide in the Class A nightcap, with regular entrant Cathedral the mild underdog against newcomer St. Paul Academy. Both have their share of talent and depth, and boast star sophomore goaltenders. This should easily be the best quarterfinal of the day.
St. Cloud Cathedral (20-7-1, #10, 2-seed in 6A)
State appearances: 7 (first since 2014)
Key section wins: 7-2 vs. #13 Sartell, 10-2 vs. 4-seed Little Falls
-The Crusaders are back in St. Paul after missing last season, and are a fairly similar team to their first round opponent. Logan Neu (2), Jake VanHalbeck (4), Michael Spethmann (19), and Jack Petroske (7) lead the offense, and there’s depth beyond them, too. The defense, led by Trevor Cornelius (15) and Jeron Hirschfeld (10) is similarly deep and capable of putting up points. A sophomore with great potential, Keegan Karki (35), occupies the net. On paper they’re a step behind SPA, but they come in hot, as they pushed Holy Family to the brink late in the season and blasted their way through a normally very competitive section 6A.
St. Paul Academy (23-5, #8, 2-seed in 4A)
First State appearance
Key section win: 7-1 vs. 5-seed Totino-Grace
-The Spartans makes their first State appearance ever this season, and they have the pieces to do some damage. Matt Dahlseide (11) and Justin Jallen (8), and Jack Johnston (19) pace the offense. A deep and high-scoring defensive corps includes Noel Parker (27), Cullen McCabe (7), and Evan Dahlseide (18). But this team’s real front-line talents are a pair of sophomores, forward Devlin McCabe (9) and goalie Andy Beran (29). They play a fairly easy schedule and several upsets kept them from being tested in sections, but narrow losses to the likes of Mahtomedi and Breck suggest they could at least make things interesting for Hermantown if they can get past Cathedral in the first round.
-Two private schools from saintly cities collide in the Class A nightcap, with regular entrant Cathedral the mild underdog against newcomer St. Paul Academy. Both have their share of talent and depth, and boast star sophomore goaltenders. This should easily be the best quarterfinal of the day.
St. Cloud Cathedral (20-7-1, #10, 2-seed in 6A)
State appearances: 7 (first since 2014)
Key section wins: 7-2 vs. #13 Sartell, 10-2 vs. 4-seed Little Falls
-The Crusaders are back in St. Paul after missing last season, and are a fairly similar team to their first round opponent. Logan Neu (2), Jake VanHalbeck (4), Michael Spethmann (19), and Jack Petroske (7) lead the offense, and there’s depth beyond them, too. The defense, led by Trevor Cornelius (15) and Jeron Hirschfeld (10) is similarly deep and capable of putting up points. A sophomore with great potential, Keegan Karki (35), occupies the net. On paper they’re a step behind SPA, but they come in hot, as they pushed Holy Family to the brink late in the season and blasted their way through a normally very competitive section 6A.
St. Paul Academy (23-5, #8, 2-seed in 4A)
First State appearance
Key section win: 7-1 vs. 5-seed Totino-Grace
-The Spartans makes their first State appearance ever this season, and they have the pieces to do some damage. Matt Dahlseide (11) and Justin Jallen (8), and Jack Johnston (19) pace the offense. A deep and high-scoring defensive corps includes Noel Parker (27), Cullen McCabe (7), and Evan Dahlseide (18). But this team’s real front-line talents are a pair of sophomores, forward Devlin McCabe (9) and goalie Andy Beran (29). They play a fairly easy schedule and several upsets kept them from being tested in sections, but narrow losses to the likes of Mahtomedi and Breck suggest they could at least make things interesting for Hermantown if they can get past Cathedral in the first round.
