Golden Bears State Champs!!

Competing in its first state final after four previous trips to the semi-finals, the Upper Arlington Golden Bears defeated Cleveland St Ignatius 5-2 on Sunday, March 9th at Nationwide Arena to claim its first championship!!

Downing Mentor 7-2 in the semi-final the day prior, the Bears went on to face rival St Ignatius after splitting game during the regular season.  Both games ended 2-1 in previous meetings with Upper Arlington prevailing the first time, but St Ignatius taking the win in the GOHL end of season tournament.  

But in their final meeting, the Golden Bears would ride to victory on an outstanding performance in goal by Junior, Mason Herndon (#35) and a run of scoring in the third period that would take them from a 1-goal lead to a 5-2 win.   Senior, Jason Davis (#12) and sophomore, Ben Spence (#16) would both tally two goals each as the team pressed the pace with St Ignatius.  The Bears would hold their opponent scoreless until the final 1:07 remaining in regulation before they went on to score two goals in the waning seconds of the game.

The Golden Bears claimed the State Championship for the first time in their 48 year history before a massive crowd of exuberant students and fans!  In the end, they played for each other, their school, and for every player who ever laced up skates and pulled on an Upper Arlington jersey, securing a place in UA Hockey history as the first state champions.