Archbishop Carroll Patriots - 1981 AAA 2004 AA

Canon-McMillan's overtime magic finally ran out.

The Big Macs beat two higher-seeded teams in overtime during the Penguins Cup Class AAA semifinals and final to win that title, but the law of averages caught up to them in what was a 4-3, double-overtime loss to Cardinal O'Hara in a Pennsylvania Cup high school hockey state championship games at Mellon Arena.

"It was almost magical again out on that ice," Canon-McMillan captain Mario Dalesandro said.

"We were the Cinderella the whole time, you know? We weren't even supposed to be here. And then the clock decided to strike 12."

The clock struck 12 when the Mellon Arena game clock showed 8:47 remained in the second overtime. That is when the Lions' Stephen Falcone scored his second goal of the game, cruising down the slot, turning the puck over to his backhand and lifting a shot underneath the crossbar on Big Macs goalie Brandon Smolarek's glove side just inside the left post.

This overtime was not supposed to end that way for Canon-McMillan (18-8-1), the No. 8 seed in the Penguins Cup playoffs that beat both No. 1 Shaler and No. 4 Seneca Valley in overtime on the same Mellon Arena ice to reach the state title game.

"Twice, yes," Big Macs coach Yuri Kuvokuha said. "A third time?

"It won't happen every time. That's hockey. But what I told the kids is we had a great season, an unbelievable season. Nobody expected a No. 8 seed to be playing in the state final.

"It was close, too. Oh, so close."

Canon-McMillan did not trail until the game ended. The Big Macs got goals from Ryan Thomas and Dalesandro 33 seconds apart starting 5:12 into the second period.

But goals by Cardinal O'Hara's David Smith and Falcone later in the period tied it. Still, when Joe Mottiqua -- the overtime hero in the semifinals against Shaler -- scored with 10:32 left, it appeared as if the Big Macs had some of that Mellon Arena magic left in the final high school hockey game played at the 49-year-old facility.

"I really thought at that point we were going to keep going and put the foot on the gas pedal and just stomp all over them," Dalesandro said. "But they came back strong, give them credit."

Michael Marconi tied it with 4:07 left on what was the third goal off a rebound for the Lions (16-3-3). It set up overtime, which had been so kind to Canon-McMillan in recent weeks.

"I thought all along our guys would pull it out," Dalesandro said.

"Even when they started coming back, I thought we were going to come through again; I really did. I still really can't believe we lost that game. But someone has to lose, and unfortunately it was us."