By Ashley Richards (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Whetstone/Cochise Lucas

Wesley’s #19 Matthew Phillipes scores a goal against Johns Hopkins Goalie. Wesley plays hard in this game, but ultimately loses to Johns Hopkins 6-3. The Wolverines went 9-7 during the season.

In their first time in a championship, Wesley’s Ice Hockey team lost the Mason Dixon Collegiate Hockey Association’s Championship game to American University on Feb. 12.

Despite the loss, players said their season, only their second, was the best ever.

“Every team disliked us because of how hard and tough we played,” said freshman Steve Greco.

Wesley defeated Johns Hopkins University 4-1 in the quarterfinals on Feb. 10. The next day, the team defeated Dickinson College 8-1 in the semi-finals. They lost to American University 4-1.

Other teams knew Wesley’s team as “the underdog” because it only had 10 players.  This set them apart from the other teams who had more than twice the number of players.

“We just had to work with what we had and use each other the best we could,” said freshman Brian Sanca.

“Goalie Tyler Piechoski was literally a brick wall in the net for us,” said Captain Bryan McDonald.

The team, including defensemen Bryan McDonald, Matt Phillipes, and Jordan Mayville; snipers Jerry Cassidy, Brian Sanca, Warren Gross and Stephen Greco; and enforcers, Nicholas Greco and Andrew Dexter, Wesley was able to outplay many teams.

Wolverines said that teams, such as Johns Hopkins and Dickinson were upset that the 2-year Wesley Wolverines had even made it to the championship game.

The team suffered from penalties, however.

“Although we did have a decent amount of penalties, we never let a teammate get thrown around on the ice,” Greco said.

The players said they had a great season.

“We had a pretty dominant season this year with, of course, some bumps in the road,” McDonald said. “But with 10 players on our roster compared to the average team that has over 20, we still competed and even outplayed a lot of teams.”

Greco said the season was fun.

“The best moment for me was having a hat trick (3 goals in one game) in the semi-finals vs. Dickinson, and also playing with my brother (Nicholas),” Greco said.

Amanda Kinkade, who coordinated intramural sports, including the hockey team, said she was proud of the team.

“It is pretty spectacular what they have accomplished,” she said.