Seneca Valley Edges NA in PIHL Semifinals, 2-1
by Jared Barton
After 2-1 finals in each of the two regular season meetings, it was only fitting the North Allegheny-Seneca Valley semifinal matchup of the PIHL Penguins Cup Playoffs would end in the exact same score. However, unlike the regular season, it was Seneca Valley who edged the Tigers to advance to the Class AAA Penguins Cup final next week.
The game at the RMU Island Sports Complex started slow for both teams on Monday night, as neither squad wanted to give up a bad look early. With just over two minutes left in the period, the Tigers moved into the offensive zone with numbers. Junior forward Nate Spak got a handle on the puck within close range and rang it off the post, leading to a rebound that senior Connor Chi buried, giving NA the 1-0 advantage. Spak and junior Matt Irvin earned the assists on the goal, which was Chi’s fifth of the playoffs.
The Tigers maintained their one-goal lead until the 11:39 mark of the second period. Seneca Valley’s Zach Regalski threw a wrist shot on junior goalie Rylan Murphy that hit the top of his catching glove and trickled into the net. SV’s Jacob Komaniak was given an assist on the play.
In the third, the Seneca Valley siege was placed on Murphy as the Raiders cranked the intensity. Two separate coast-to-coast chances from Shane Kozlina and Andrew Davis tested the junior goalie, but he was able to hold strong each time. At the 10:46 mark of the third, Seneca Valley continued its persistence in front of the NA crease, and after an initial stop, Davis scored the game winner. Patrick Dolan was credited with an assist on the play.
The Wright Automotive player of the game was the senior class for the Tigers, including Will Mensch, Kyle Holmes, Cole Jackman, Luke Washabaugh, Hunter Corna, Connor Chi, Aidan Soose, Nolan Collinear, Shane O’Neill, Patrick Buttignol, Ryder Wilson and George Moran. The NA senior class posted an incredible 59-15 regular season record over the past four seasons and captured a pair of Penguins Cup titles and two state championship game appearances along the way.
Congratulations to the entire North Allegheny ice hockey team and coaching staff for another fantastic season.
Seneca Valley advances to the PIHL Penguins Cup Finals Monday night to face Peters Township from the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry.
Ice Hockey Summary vs. Seneca Valley, 3-14-22
| GAME SUMMARY | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY PERIODS | 1 | 2 | 3 | FINAL |
| Seneca Valley | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| North Allegheny | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |