No Win For Baldwin In Regular Season Finale With NA, 4-1
Entering the night with a chance to move up a spot or two in the Class AAA standings, the North Allegheny ice hockey team won its regular season finale with Baldwin on Thursday by a 4-1 decision at the Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale. With the out of town scoreboard also impacting the upper tier of the standings, North Allegheny bumped up to second place heading into the PIHL playoffs next week.
The Tigers manufactured a 1-0 lead almost immediately when sophomore Luke Walkauskas netted a power play goal just 1:59 into the contest. The Walkauskas marker was assisted by junior Travis Lamark. Senior Evan Kerber made it 2-0, North Allegheny, with his team leading 16th goal of the season at the 12:09 mark of the opening stanza. Senior captain Ryan Jackman and senior Logan Cerqua earned the helpers on the Kerber tally.
With only one win on the season, Baldwin hung tough in the second period thanks to the play of goalie Austin Landosky, who made 52 saves on the night. However, Landosky eventually buckled under NA’s barrage with just 19 seconds left in the period when sophomore Ravi Desai found the back of the net with his fifth goal of the campaign and the lead swelled to 3-0. Junior Gianni Lochiatto and senior Aidan Anthony were credited with the assists on Desai’s goal.
The Tigers put the finishing touches on the victory with Kerber’s second goal of the night at the 9:56 mark of the third period, increasing the NA advantage to 4-0. Kerber’s power play goal gave him 17 on the season, assisted by Walkauskas and Desai. For his two-goal performance, Kerber was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.
Baldwin broke the shutout at the 10:48 mark of the third period on a goal by Trevor Brain, bringing the score to its eventual final, 4-1, North Allegheny.
In net, junior Camden Junker drew the start and saved all nine shots that he faced. Senior Andrew Long checked in for the third period and made five saves.
With the win, North Allegheny improves to 14-4-2 on the season, while Baldwin’s season ends with a 1-17-2 record. The Tigers will open the Penguins Cup playoffs at home on Monday night against the Central Catholic Vikings at 9:00 p.m.. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Ice Hockey Summary vs. Baldwin, 2-29-24
| GAME SUMMARY | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY PERIODS | 1 | 2 | 3 | FINAL |
| Baldwin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |