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NORTH HILLS UPSETS TIGERS, 6-3

The Tigers dropped their first PIHL contest of the year on Monday night when the North Hills Indians pulled the upset, 6-3, at the RMU-Island Sports Center.  Senior defenseman Paul Dittrich scored three times as NA tried to battle back from a 4-0 deficit.

North Hills jumped off to a quick lead on a goal by Fred Latini just 3:35 into the game.  Dave Hansell scored at the 6:30 mark to make it 2-0 in favor of the Indians.  Nick Roster's shorthanded goal gave North Hills at 3-0 lead after one period of play.

In the second period, Grant Purcell increased the North Hills lead to 4-0 at the 10:40 mark.  The Tigers finally got on the board when Dittrich tallied a power play goal with 5:49 remaining in the period.  Dan Stein answered for the Indians just 40 seconds later.  North Hills took a 5-1 into the second intermission.

The Tigers rallied early in the third period behind the play of Dittrich.  The NA defenseman scored another power play goal just 1:25 into the period to cut the lead to 5-2.  Dittrich scored again with 10:58 remaining to make it a 5-3 game.  Latini's second goal of the game, on a power play, pushed the margin back to three at 6-3, and the Indians were able to hold off NA for the remainder of the game.

North Hills outshot NA, 21-16, over the first two periods before the Tigers came alive in the final period with a 13-4 advantage.  NA ended up outshooting NH, 29-25, on the game.  Senior Brandon Wiedwald started in goal for NA, was replaced by sophomore Max Richards for ten minutes in the second period, and returned to play the final stanza.  Both teams had seven penalties totaling 14 minutes.

The loss dropped the NA Division record to 2-1 on the season.  The Tigers and North Hills will meet again on Friday night at Bladerunners in Warrendale.  Game time is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH HILLS - 6  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

SHOTS ON GOAL

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WALDSCHMIDT'S HAT TRICK LEADS TIGERS OVER BETHEL PARK, 6-4, IN HOME OPENER

Junior Wes Waldschmidt scored three times to lead the Tigers to a 6-4 victory over Bethel Park in the home opener in PIHL play.  The Tigers gained a measure of revenge with the victory over the Blackhawks who defeated NA, 1-0, in last year's championship game.  Senior Chris Gilson added a pair of goals while seniors Paul Dittrich and Chris Simanic recorded three assists each.

In the first period, Bethel Park got on the board first when Aaron Marks scored on a power play 2:47 into the game to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 advantage.  Gilson answered with an NA power play goal just 1:29 later to tie the score at 1-1.  Waldschmidt gave NA its first lead of the game when he tallied his first goal on assists from senior defenseman Ian McGlumphy and senior forward Alan Halapin with only 20 seconds remaining in the period,  The Tigers took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

Bethel Park came back with two early goals in the second period to take a 3-2 lead as Logan Bannon and Tim O'Brien scored for the Blackhawks.  Waldschmidt's second goal of the game on a power play tied the score at 3-3 at the 7:22 mark of the period.  Gilson's second goal put the Tigers ahead for good, 4-3, with Simanic and Dittrich assisting with 4:31 left in the period.  Sophomore forward Josh Herbert scored just 40 seconds later to extend the lead to 5-3.  NA took the two-goal lead to the second intermission.

Late in the third period, Waldschmidt completed the hat trick on a power play open net goal with 52 seconds left in the game.  The Blackhawks got a consolation goal from Tim Davin with eight seconds remaining, but the Tigers had earned a 6-4 victory in the home opener.

After being outshot by NA, 9-2, in the first period, the Blackhawks came on strong to end up with the advantage in shots for the game, 26-20.  Sophomore Max Richards played the entire game in goal for NA to earn the victory.  NA had six penalties for 12 minutes while Bethel was penalized three times for six minutes.

With the win, the Tigers improved their PIHL record to 2-0 in the early season.  The Tigers will travel to the RMU-Island Sports Center tomorrow night to meet rival North Hills in a 7:15 pm North Division contest.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 6  BETHEL PARK - 4

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

SHOTS ON GOAL

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGERS WIN PIHL OPENER, 2-0, WITH TWO GOALS IN FINAL PERIOD

After being held to a scoreless tie through the first two periods, seniors Paul Dittrich and Chris Gilson were able to tally third-period goals to give the Tigers a 2-0 victory over Fox Chapel at Bladerunners in Harmarville in the PIHL opener on Monday night.  The win earned a little revenge for a loss to the Foxes in the final of the St. Margaret's Fall Face-off Tournament earlier in the year.

The Tigers outshot Fox Chapel in both the first and second periods but could not beat Fox Chapel goalie Eric Thiessen.  NA had nine shots to three for the Foxes in the first period, and added 10 more in the second to just three for Fox Chapel.

For most of the third period, it looked like the game would go to overtime with neither team able to get the all-important first goal.  Finally, with just 3:33 left, Dittrich beat Thiessen with a hard slap shot from just inside the blue line to give the Tigers a 1-0 advantage.  Gilson picked up an insurance goal with 37 seconds left when he poked in a rebound from in front of the net.  The Tigers came away with a hard fought 1-0 decision as the PIHL regular season got under way.

For the game, the Tigers outshot the Foxes, 36-11, and only the outstanding play of Thiessen in the net kept the game close.  Sophomore Max Richards was in goal for NA and posted the shutout.  Fox Chapel had six penalties for a total of 12 penaltie minutes while NA was called for three penalties totaling six minutes.

The Tigers will host Bethel Park on Friday night in the home opener.  The game is a rematch of last year's PIHL championship game with game time scheduled for 6:00 pm at Bladerunners in Warrendale.  Students are requested to wear black for an NA Student Blackout.  Sunglasses are acceptable indoors for this game.  Student admission will be $2.00.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2  FOX CHAPEL - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

SHOTS ON GOAL

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CENTRAL CATHOLIC TOPS TIGERS, 3-2, IN PRE-SEASON CONTEST

The Tigers dropped a 3-2 decision to Central Catholic on Tuesday night at Bladerunners in Harmarville.  Sophomore Josh Herbert and senior Chris Simanic scored for NA as Central tallied the winning goal at the 6:59 mark of the third period.

Central jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the first period when Andy Hanno scored an unassisted goal just 3:08 into the game.  Herbert came back to tie the game on an assist from junior defenseman Brad Schwartzmier at the 4:41 mark of the period.  Central took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission on a goal by C.J. Burke with 11:20 remaining in the period.  Neither team scored in the second period.

Early in the third period, Simanic scored a power play goal on an assist from junior Wes Waldschmidt to tie the score just 1:01 into the period.  Joe Kerr got the game winner for the Vikings later in the period.  Sophomore goalie Max Richards stopped 13 of 14 shots while senior Brandon Wiedwald was able to save 7 of 9 as the two goalies split time.  The Tigers outshot Central, 24-23, but were just 1 for 9 on the power play.

The Tigers will take on Fox Chapel again on Halloween night in the opening game of the new PIHL season.  The game will be played at Bladerunners in Harmarville with game time set for 6:30 pm.  NA is in North Division this year along with Fox Chapel, North Hills and Seneca Valley.

(Thanks to Ken McGlumphy and the Central Catholic website for information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
CENTRAL CATHOLIC - 3  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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FOX CHAPEL GOALIE STOPS TIGERS, 4-1

The Tigers outshot Fox Chapel, 36-13, in the finals of the St. Margaret's Fall Face-Off Tournament at Bladerunners in Harmarville on Thursday night but could manage only one goal as Fox Chapel won the title with a 4-1 victory.  Senior forward Chris Simanic gave NA a 1-0 lead in the first period for the only NA goal.

Early in the first period, neither team had a good scoring opportunity until Fox Chapel's Kyle Misour shot just wide of the NA net.  Later in the period, the Tigers were called for two penalties, the second at 6:19,  giving the Foxes a two-man advantage.  The NA defense was able to hold off the Foxes to keep the game scoreless.  Senior Chris Gilson set up Simanic for a tip-in with just 1:25 remaining in the period to give the Tigers a 1-0 advantage.  The Foxes turned the game around with two quick goals in the last 30 seconds.  Chris Hughes tied the game with a hard shot from the left face off circle, and Andrew McCoy tipped a rebound in with only 5 seconds left to give the Foxes a 2-1 lead after one period.

In the second period, the Tigers turned up the pressure, outshooting Fox Chapel, 13-6, but they could not beat FC goalie Eric Thiessen.  Junior forward Wes Waldschmidt had the best chance at the 13:14 mark but Thiessen made the save.  NA sophomore netminder Max Richards kept the game close with a good save on Misour less than a minute later.  Joey Butz was able to score an unassisted goal at the 4:47 mark to give the Foxes a 3-1 lead as the teams went to the second intermission.

The Tigers continued to pepper the FC goal in the third period, but it was not their night.  Simanic came close early hitting the post on a power play.  Senior defenseman Ian McGlumphy was stopped from right in front just moments later.  The Tigers had another power play later in the period, but Theissen made the save on Waldschmidt's shot from right in front of the net.  Finally, with NA pressing, Alex Haak took the puck at center ice, beat the Tiger defense, and put the game away with the final Fox Chapel tally with 1:24 left in the game.  Overall, the Tigers piled up 36 shots to just 13 for the Foxes with Theissen being the difference. 

It was one of those nights for the Tigers who dominated play but were unable to take advantage against a hot goalie.  Fox Chapel was penalized five times for 10 minutes while NA had only three penalties for six minutes.  The win gave Fox Chapel their third championship in the St. Margaret's Tournament.  The Tigers have won the title four times.

(Special thanks to Ken McGlumphy and Jeff Mauro of PA Hockey for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
FOX CHAPEL - 4  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

SHOTS ON GOAL

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGERS BEAT PLUM, 7-1TO ADVANCE TO FINAL OF
ST. MARGARET'S TOURNEY

The Tigers spotted Plum an early 1-0 lead but scored the next seven goals on their way to a 7-1 victory in the semifinals of the St. Margaret's Fall Face-Off Tournament at Bladerunners in Harmarville on Tuesday night.  Senior Chris Simanic and sophomore Josh Herbert had a pair of goals each to lead NA.  Seniors Chris Gilson and Joe Camut, along with junior Danny Gaertner, also scored for the winning Tigers.

The Tigers threatened early in the first period but were turned away by Plum goalie John Bronder.  The Tigers were guilty of two penalties later in the period.  Plum did not score on the first, but the second gave the Mustangs a chance for the game's first goal.  Chad Covol was able to convert a feed from Ben Colosmo to give Plum a 1-0 advantage with 4:49 remaining in the period.  Neither team scored again and Plum went to the first intermission with the one-goal lead.  NA outshot Plum 8-7 in the opening period.

The Tigers wasted little time in grabbing the lead early in the second period.  Simanic scored just 13 seconds into the stanza when he batted in a rebound to tie the score at 1-1.  Twenty-two seconds later, Herbert walked out of the corner and slide the puck through the legs of Bronder to put NA on top, 2-1.  Sophomore goalie Max Richards kept the Tigers ahead when he stopped Jon Smith on a breakaway at the 11:54 mark of the period.  Gilson was able to score on a backhander at the 6:29 mark to increase the margin to 3-1.  With just under four minutes remaining, Simanic scored his second goal of the game on a cross ice pass from senior Alan Halapin.  The power play goal gave the Tigers a commanding 4-1 lead after two periods.

The Tigers put the game away with three third period power play tallies.  Halfway through the period, Herbert got his second of the contest on assists from junior Matt Lancaster and senior Paul Dittrich.  Just 26 seconds later, Camut lit the lamp on helpers from Gaertner and junior Nick Vaglia.  Gaertner completed the NA scoring with yet another power play goal with Herbert and Gilson picking up assists.

The Tigers outshot the Mustangs, 40-22, as they dominated the second and third periods.  Plum was penalized nine times for 18 minutes while the Tigers were sent to the box five times for 10 minutes.  Richards was able to stop 21 of the 22 Plum shots to earn the victory.

With the win, the Tigers advance to the championship game of the tournament against Fox Chapel.  NA has won the last two titles and has been to the final in seven of the last nine years, including the last five.  Game time is set for 8:30 pm tomorrow night at Bladerunners in Harmarville.

(Thanks to Ken McGlumphy and Jeff Mauro of PA Hockey for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7  PLUM - 1

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

SHOTS ON GOAL

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TIGERS DOWN PINE-RICHLAND ON
McGLUMPHY'S GOAL, 2-1

In the opening round of the St. Margaret's Fall Face-off Tournament, senior defenseman Ian McGlumphy scored with just 4:20 remaining in the third period to give the Tigers a 2-1 victory over Pine-Richland.  Junior forward Matt Lancaster had tied the game earlier in the period.

The Tigers came out strong, outshooting the Rams, 10-2, in the first period, but PR goalie Stoney Hildredth was able to keep NA off the board.  In the second period, neither team could score until the last 30 seconds.  On a power play, Evan Goetz was able to poke in a rebound of a Jordan Yoklic shot to give the Rams a 1-0 advantage after two periods.

The Tigers tied the game early in the third period when Lancaster was able to deflect a cross ice pass by senior defenseman Paul Dittrich just under the crossbar at the 1:45 mark.  With 4:49 remaining, senior forward Chris Gilson broke free behind the PR defense but lost his balance and a chance to give NA the lead.  McGlumphy got the game winner 29 seconds later as Dittrich hit the Tiger defenseman breaking in from the left point.  In the closing minutes, sophomore goalie Max Richards had to make several key saves including one from right in front by Josh Fodor with 1:13 left in the game.  The Tigers held on to win, 2-1.  NA ended with a 20-18 advantage in shots.

With the win, the Tigers advanced to the semifinals tonight against Plum.  Game time at Bladerunners in Harmarville is scheduled for 8:30 pm.

(Thanks to Ken McGlumphy and Jeff Mauro for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2  PINE-RICHLAND - 1

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

SHOTS ON GOAL

ST. MARGARET'S FALL FACE-OFF TOURNAMENT
BLADERUNNERS/HARMARVILLE
October 10-13, 2005

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TIGERS DROP PETERS TOWNSHIP, 4-1, IN PRE-SEASON ACTION

The Tigers continued pre-season action with a 4-1 victory over PIHL Class AA State Champion Peters Township at Iceoplex at Southpointe on Monday night.  Senior Alan Halapin scored a pair of goals to pace NA while senior Chris Gilson and junior Wes Waldschmidt added single tallies.

In the first period, senior Chris Simanic sent Gilson in on a breakaway and the NA senior made it count as the Tigers took a 1-0 lead after one period.  Halapin added a power play goal in the second period on an assist by Waldschmidt as the Tigers opened a 2-0 lead.  Waldschmidt scored another power play goal for the Tigers in the third period to give NA a 3-0 advantage.  Halapin closed the scoring for the Tigers on another assist from Simanic as the lead went to 4-0.  Peters Township got on the board with a late goal with two minutes remaining.  The Tigers went on to take a 4-1 victory.

Peters Township dressed a combination of varsity and JV players for the game.  NA responded with  a mix of seasoned letterman and a number of up and coming young players.  Juniors Zach Kelly, Nick Vaglia, Brad Schwartzmier, along with sophomores Josh Herbert, Jake Williams, Corey Sheran, Tyson Stupy, and Max Richards, and freshmen Dylan Rohar and Donny Lewis all played a role in the Tiger victory.

Statistically, the Tigers outshot the Indians, 32-16, in the contest.  NA will be in action again on Monday when they meet Pine-Richland in the St. Margaret's Fall Face-Off Tournament.  The scheduled starting time is set for 8:30 pm at Bladerunners in Harmarville.

(Thanks to Ken McGlumphy for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  PETERS TOWNSHIP - 1

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NA OPENS PRE-SEASON WITH A WIN OVER PINE-RICHLAND, 6-4

The Tigers defeated the Pine-Richland Rams, 6-4, at Bladerunners in Warrendale on Thursday afternoon in pre-season action.  Pine-Richland scored a pair of 1st period goals to take a 2-0 lead into the 2nd period.  The Tigers got on the board with a blistering wrist shot by junior Dan Gaertner from the top of the right circle.  Assists were by senior Chris Simanic and sophomore Corey Sheran.

NA scored three more goals in the second period starting with senior Chris Gilson on assists from junior Nick Vaglia and senior Ian McGlumphy.  Senior Alan Halapin tied the game at three with a wrist shot assisted by sophomore Tyson Stupy and Simanic.  Pine-Richland regained the lead late in the second, but NA responded with :09 seconds remaining in the period with a Simanic goal assisted by junior Wes Waldschmidt and McGlumphy.

Junior Brad Schwartzmier gave NA the lead for good when he slipped the puck in behind the Pine-Richland goalie with some nice work down low around the goal.  NA's final goal was scored by sophomore Josh Herbert into an open net on a nice setup from Waldschmidt.  The game ended with Pine-Richland taking 29 shots on net with NA finished with 21.

(Thanks to Ken McGlumphy for information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 6  PINE-RICHLAND - 4

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PIHL ICE  HOCKEY - 2005-06

The Tigers will once again compete in Class AAA along with 18 other teams.  The Tigers are in the North Division and will play home and away games against Fox Chapel and North Hills, along with Seneca Valley and Shaler.  NA has a 22-game schedule in league play with home games played at Bladerunners in Warrendale.

PIHL AAA ALIGNMENT - 22 TEAMS

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org