After eking out a 4-3 win in their November meeting, the St. Mark’s Spartans (7-1-0) proved much more decisive in victory over the St. Joseph’s Prep II Hawks (6-3-1) on Monday evening (Jan. 15) at Ice Line in West Chester, Pa., drawing away to a 6-1 triumph.

Despite Owen Moke having drawn first blood for St. Joseph 39 seconds in, the Spartans came roaring back with six unanswered goals.  Freshman William Ralsten and sophomore Graham Kline were both able to beat Hawks goalie Dan McGill in the first period, with Kline’s goal putting St. Mark’s up 2-1 at the conclusion of the first. 

Following second-period tallies from junior Lance Ralsten (William’s older brother) and senior Patrick Swain to raise the Spartans’ lead to 4-1, the St. Mark’s power-play unit was able to showcase their ability in the third.  With Moke serving a two-and-ten for a checking from behind foul, senior Liam Kline connected at 4:29 in the third from sophomore Kelly Stroik—his third assist of the night after being credited with helpers on both first-period goals.  The younger Ralsten connected on another man advantage with just over two minutes to go, icing the 6-1 victory for the upstart Spartans.

In all, St. Mark’s was 2-for-4 on the power play, and they recorded 27 shots on McGill.  Spartans netminder Billy Pierce saved 18 of the 19 shots he faced.

The Spartans return to Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL) action next Friday, Jan. 26, when they face Delaware Military Academy at The Pond Ice Arena in Newark, Del.  Live coverage on Delaware Hockey Night Radio is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.