LANDOVER -- Neil Buchlietner and Danny Callihan sparked a five-goal second-period rally that broke open the game for Mount St. Joseph, and the Gaels went on to capture their second straight Maryland Scholastic Hockey League title with a 10-4 victory over DeMatha yesterday at USAir Arena.
Buchlietner (four goals, one assist) and Callihan (four goals) carried much of the load throughout the game as Mount St. Joseph (11-1) paid back DeMatha (23-5-1) for an earlier 6-0 defeat.
Callihan, Danny Nash (two goals) and then Buchlietner combined for three goals in 1:36 to give the Gaels a 4-1 lead early in the second period.
"That was the turning point of the game," said Callihan. "DeMatha found themselves in a no-win situation."
The Gaels quickly made it worse. Callihan and Buchlietner added one more apiece in the period for a 6-3 lead after two, and DeMatha (one goal and two assists from Jason Noe) never threatened again.
Nearly everything Mount St. Joe did in this game worked. The Gaels scored four power-play goals and one short-handed. In fact, St. Joe nearly scored two more short-handed.
St. Joe coach Erv Terwilliger often stayed with just two lines. The first line of Buchlietner, Zach Adams (two assists) and Thomas Weyermann (one assist) created as many scoring chances as did the second line of Callihan, Erv Terwilliger (three assists) and Joe Cremen (one assist).
The Gaels also got help from Brad Webb (three assists).