Celtics Take Charge Early, Cruise to Two-Period Shutout Win Over Thomas Worthington

Dublin — After a tough 4-1 loss to Upper Arlington in Friday’s season opener, Dublin Jerome bounced back on home ice Saturday night against Thomas Worthington. Unlike Friday, when the Celtics fell into a 2-0 deficit early, they came out strong against the Cardinals, setting the tone for the game from the start.

In a lightning-fast start, Dublin Jerome struck twice within the first 32 seconds of the game. Nick Myers opened the scoring, followed quickly by Theo Makrogiannis, giving the Celtics an early advantage. Just minutes later, Alex Nakamura added a third goal in a three-minute span, propelling Jerome to a commanding 3-0 lead over Thomas Worthington.

Celtics Head Coach Patrick Murphy emphasized the importance of a fast start after Friday’s setback against Upper Arlington. “We had a really good start. I think it put the opponent on their heels,” Murphy said. “Last night was the opposite—UA scored twice in the first five minutes, and we didn’t have a great start. It put us on our heels.”

The Cardinals’ defense regrouped and held the Celtics scoreless for the final 12 minutes of the first period, prompting Dublin Jerome to make key adjustments. “They did a good job calling a timeout to get their team focused, and they were a lot better for the rest of the first period,” Coach Murphy explained. “We made adjustments on our forecheck and offensive zone play in the second period. We told the kids to shoot the puck high and hit the net.”

The adjustments paid off in a dominant second period, as the Celtics unleashed an offensive onslaught, scoring seven goals while controlling the Thomas Worthington zone nearly the entire period. Makrogiannis, Nakamura, Ethan Halligan (2), Sean Covitz, Breandan Duffy, and Dylan Forney all found the back of the net during the barrage. The offensive explosion secured a decisive 10-0 victory for Dublin Jerome, ending the game in just two periods.

Coach Murphy acknowledged that while the Celtics are still a work in progress, the team’s depth and talent provide a strong foundation. “Positionally, we will get better. I mean, we have a group of kids that can skate and play,” he said. “There are a lot of new faces in our locker room, and there’s a lot of learning and teaching to do.”

Coach Murphy remains confident that the Celtics will find their stride as the season progresses. “Our team play is something we have to keep working on every chance we get in practice,” he emphasized. “As the new guys start to learn our system, we’ve got a lot of skill across the board. Once everyone starts working together as a unit of five, we will ultimately improve.”

Dublin Jerome (1-1) faces New Albany in their next match, while Thomas Worthington (0-2) plays Bishop Watterson next.