After a first-round bye, the Cate boys showed their playoff metal Saturday with a 10-6 second-round win against El Segundo at Tucker Field.
That puts the Rams into a CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinal tilt against Anaheim Canyon at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Wade Nieman led with four goals, and Cody Mast added three. Cate led post to post, though El Segundo pulled to within 8-6 late in the game.
But then Nieman ran over the goaltender, who had strayed off his line, for an easy goal. That was quickly followed by a pirouetting Mast scoring on an airborne reverse shot as he flew by the crease.
Up 10-6 with three minutes left, the Rams maintained possession and ran out the clock.
Cate played a strong possession throughout the first half and led 3-1 at the break. The Rams opened with three straight wins at the faceoff X, and got on the board early with Harry McAdam scoring off a Mast fast break.
The defense of Caden Fuchs, Jack Whelan, and Kristian Scurtis kept the doorstep clean for goalie Burak Yanar.
As has been the case all season, the Rams came out of the break on fire with first year Quincy Thorne, Nieman (2), Mast and Livingston all scoring goals. This allowed Cate to head to the fourth quarter with an 8-4 lead.
“Today we proved that our hard work this season is paying off,” Rams coach Wade Ransom said. “This was a tough, physical playoff game in a great atmosphere. The boys played to our strengths, possessed the ball better than we have all year, and worked the game plan to perfection.
“It was awesome to see our young guys step up with sophomore Cody Mast having a massive day and Quincy Thorne giving us a much needed boost with his goal coming out of halftime.
“At this point in the year, every team is strong, and we were fortunate enough to win the battle today. I am very proud of the group for playing like a team and keeping their composure when the inevitable rally from El Segundo came. We are one of 8 teams in the division left standing and we look forward to getting back after it next week.”