Archbishop Carroll Patriots - 1981 AAA 2004 AA

Nation of Meadville routs the Dawgs to a 4-1 win over rival North Allegheny

Meadville 4 North Allegheny 1

CRANBERRY -

         North Allegheny coach Jim Black knew that defending their Pennsylvania State AAA Championship was not going to be a picnic. After the Tigers were throttled by LaSalle at the Meadville Invitational, it became apparent that NA was not just a top team, but had a target on it’s back heading toward the playoffs in March. North Allegheny demolished their first round opponent Penn Trafford and earned a home berth against the 7^th seed Meadville Bulldogs, who the Tigers defeated 2-0 in the 2^nd half of the season, but lost to in November, splitting the season series. NA was able to capture the Division title with their final game victory over Seneca Valley.

          Meadville has had its ups and downs this season and really has been carried by the play of Morgan Nickerson and in some respects Nick Fedorka, who has been red hot over the past five games. The Bulldogs opened up the playoffs dispatching Norwin 7-1 and was the answer to the question of which teams no one really would like to face as the playoffs moved forward. Head Coach Jamie Plunkett has seen plenty of things happen in 21 years of coaching the Dawgs, but this year has been unique with a number of injuries, suspensions and suspense for his squad. The return of forward Billy Espy has really helped solidify some options for Meadville and what would turn out to be a very intruiging match-up with the heading to Mellon Arena for the Penguins Cup Semi-Finals.

You mention the word Penguins Cup in Meadville and it’s like the revelry in the Army as the ‘Meadville Nation’ rises as one and launches their cars down I-79 for the trek to Pittsburgh and this time a little stop in Cranberry for a match-up with rivalry North Allegheny.

          So before a packed house for the second of a twinbill the Tigers and Dawgs began battle in the Class AAA Penguins Cup Quarter-Finals. With 9:05 to go in the opening period Josh Herbert sped down the left wing and his centering feed found Dylan Rohar who just missed. In another good chance for the Tigers, Brady Waldschmidt was robbed by Bryan ‘Duck’ Danczak. The Tigers went on the power play at 1:41 and 5 on 3 trying to get the first score but the period ended in a 0-0 tie.

            On to the 2^nd period we went and Meadville would have its first chance on the power play and made it count as Morgan Nickerson took advantage of a bad clearing attempt by NA and threaded a perfect back door feed to Drew Finton who scored at 9:50 to give the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Meadville went back on the power play at 8:37 and NA cleared the puck twice but Nick Fedorka semi break resulted in a drop to trailer Morgan Nickerson who fired a shot to the net save by Max Richards, but Nickerson crashed the net and the puck went off his skate and found its way past Richards to make it 2-0 with 7:19 to go. NA Coach Black saw it as did the Bulldog faithful and a lot of others, but the goal stood, which was a huge lift for the Bulldogs and deflated North Allegheny. Max Richards made several very good saves to keep the Tigers in the hockey game in the middle of the 2^nd period, but the Dawgs struck again as Aaron Nyes blistering slapshot from the center point beat Richards at 5:24 to make it 3-0 and it was all Meadville as the teams headed to the ice cut.

        North Allegheny got a power play to start the third period, but could not capitalize as Meadville continued to play smart defense and keep the puck out of their end. Bryan Danczak was turning aside everything that the Tigers threw at him late into regulation. North Allegheny got a power play at 4:24 and then a 5 on 3 at 4:11 and finally scored wit 3:11 to go as Josh Herbert scored on a wrist shot with 3:30 to play to make it 3-1. Plenty of time remained on the power play for NA, but Danczak stood tall making a save on Dylan Rohar at 3:09 and more saves as North Allegheny pulled goaltender Richards with 1:44 to play. Morgan Nickerson got to a loose puck after the faceoff and deposited it into an empty net to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 cushion and a trip to Mellon Arena to face # 1 and undefeated Pine Richland in the Penguins Cup semis next week. A big win for Meadville, the 7^th seed, who will live to play another day for a trip to the Penguins Cup final.