The Cate boys remained undefeated with a 10-4 win over Santa Barbara Thursday in a Channel League match that closed an extended home stand for the Rams.
Six Cate players scored in the game, led by Wade Nieman with three goals and an assist.
Harry McAdam staked Cate to a 1-0 lead in the first quarter, on a pass from Nieman. Defensive pressure kept the Dons off-balance and scoreless in the first half, including great saves and deflections by goalie Burak Yanar, who finished with 10 saves. In the second quarter, Oscar Livingston, Nieman and Cody Mast scored goals for Cate and the Rams went into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Santa Barbara scored three unanswered goals in the third period, narrowing the gap to 4-3, before Cate finished the quarter with two more goals. Nieman closed out the scoring with two more points in the fourth quarter.
McAdam scored two goals for Cate, adding five assists, and Mast also scored two. Livingston, Quincy Thorne and Crosby Rosenthal scored one apiece.
“Today’s win was huge for our Channel League title aspirations,” Cate coach Wade Ransom said. “We knew SBHS was much improved and healthier than the first game a few weeks ago. They had gotten some key players back from injury and we took their best shot today.
“I am pleased to see the number of guys who are making contributions continue to grow. Having Crosby and Quincy score today is proof that our depth is improving. Once we get healthy over the next few weeks, I believe we can make a good run.”
The Rams are now 5-0 in league play and 7-0 overall.
Girls: Cate 15, Santa Barbara 2
We just couldn’t keep up with the triple-team defense that Cate threw our way,” Santa Barbara coach Elayne Blessing said. “We unfortunately were not on our best game and had many turnovers.”
But with all that, so proud of how they fought to the end and gave it their all. Their beet-red faces at the end of the game told the story of a group of young ladies that fight! The score doesn’t reflect their hard work.”