Top of the Crop
Hockey
1: (1) University 9-5-2
5: (5) Lake Catholic 8-14
Watch list: Benedictine (7-8-1)
Crop comments: Maybe the Dec. 30 overtime loss to Holy Name was the spark University needed. US won a pair of dogfights with St. Edward, 1-0, in overtime and, 2-1, over the weekend. That’s more than enough to keep the Preppers entrenched at No. 1 in the Crop for the time being. ... Gilmour went 2-2 at its Brother James Memorial tournament to hang onto the No. 2 slot. ... Full disclosure: Had Mentor defeated Rocky River on Jan. 7 — to follow up its signature 4-2 win over Kenston — there might have been an argument for No. 2 in the Crop. But obviously, beating the Bombers head-to-head deserves a leapfrog to No. 3. ... Kenston also lost to River after falling to the Cardinals, snapping its 14-game winning streak. While not an ideal weekend, the overall body of work suggests the Bombers will be fine.. ... Lake Catholic ended any concerns about falling out of the Crop with a 7-2 win over Benedictine. The Cougars are clearly a work in progress, but there are glimpses here and there that better days loom.
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