Cardinal O'Hara High won its second Flyers Cup Class AAA championship yesterday afternoon at the Wachovia Center with a 2-0 victory over Malvern Prep that was sparked by "the Brotherhood" - a first line of senior forwards Ricky DeRosa, Michael Marconi, and Stephen Falcone.

"That's what we call the team, but that's what we call the line, too," said DeRosa, who was named MVP of the 31st annual eastern Pennsylvania title tournament after assisting on goals by Falcone and defenseman Eric Iamuri.

First-year goaltender Jeffrey Holland, a senior, made 19 saves and recorded the shutout as O'Hara won its first Flyers Cup title since 2005-06.

"I'm proud of [Holland], because I knew he had a lot of pressure on him just being on this team and not letting them down," O'Hara coach Bill Swahl said.

O'Hara advances to face the winner of the Penguins Cup at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh on April 1 for the state championship. The Penguins Cup tournament, which determines the Western champion, is still in its semifinals.

Falcone scored O'Hara's first goal, the game-winner, 44 seconds into the third period off assists from his "Brothers." DeRosa ripped a shot on Malvern Prep goaltender Corey Hughes (28 saves), who had stopped a Marconi penalty shot in the second period and also robbed Marconi with a sprawling glove save.

When DeRosa's shot rebounded off Hughes to the right side of the net, Marconi slapped a centering pass to Falcone.

"Right place, right time, basically," said Falcone, who buried the puck into an open net. "If I would have missed that, I probably would have quit hockey."

Swahl said Falcone played on a line with senior Michael Ranalli and freshman Jeffrey Beck until the Flyers Cup. But seven minutes into a first-round game against Father Judge, the No. 3-seed Lions were scoreless, so Swahl moved Falcone to the first shift.

In the three-game tournament, DeRosa had three goals and seven assists, Marconi had five goals and two assists, and Falcone notched two goals and eight assists.

Malvern Prep junior defender Zachary Olah played physical and controlled the puck early, and senior forward James Law had a few good looks at Holland late. But the Friars were unable to sneak one by the senior goaltender to tie the game.

O'Hara's Iamuri, a sophomore on a team with 15 seniors, shut the door on Malvern's hopes for a comeback. Beck and DeRosa worked the puck up the right boards to the point, where Iamuri slid forward, loaded, and blasted a slapper over Hughes' blocker for the insurance goal.

"They had the better scoring opportunities," said Malvern Prep coach Steve Mackell, whose Friars were outshot, 30-19.

Malvern Prep could have had a 1-0 lead: Freshman forward Michael Horrocks jammed home a loose puck with 2 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the second period. But referees had blown the whistle as a bouncing puck disappeared behind Holland off a Patrick Schramm wraparound.

"We thought that first goal was a goal, and it was called off," Mackell said.

O'Hara also dodged a bullet when the Wachovia Center's public address announcer requested that fans refrain from using profanity during the first intermission.

Lions fans were using R-rated language in chants directed at the Malvern Prep faithful, and the Flyers warned that further profanity could risk a forfeit.

Swahl said O'Hara's fans have been supportive but were a "little too vocal" yesterday.

"I just turned and said, 'Calm down the language,' " Swahl said.

Malvern Prep 0 0 0 - 0

Cardinal O'Hara 0 0 2 - 2

Goals: CO–Stephen Falcone, Eric Iamuri.

Saves: MP–Corey Hughes 28; CO–Jeffrey Holland 19.

 

Downingtown East built a three-goal lead then withstood a comeback bid by defending champion Council Rock South to capture the AA Flyers Cup championship Thursday night with a 4-2 win at the Ice Arena in Hatfield.

The victory for the unbeaten Cougars (24-0-1) puts them in the Pennsyslvania Cup championship on Thursday at noon at the Mellon Center in Pittsburgh. They will face the AA Penguins Cup champion, yet to be determined.

It was a little revenge for the Cougars who were ousted by the Golden Hawks in the quarterfinals last season. South lost to Latrobe in the state cup finals.

"Coach told us it was Council Rock South's year last year but it was our year this year," said sophomore Dave Defazio who scored one of the goals that enabled the Cougars take a 3-0 lead. "We were determined to make it our year"

Ryan Urban scored a pair of goals for the Cougars to build that 3-0 lead but the key to the game was a defense that essentially kept the Golden Hawks' big three, Patrick Grilli, Tyler Deitrick and Peter Malmud off the scoreboard. The trio had accounted for 91 goals before last night but only Grilli managed a goal in the title game.

"They're a very good team," said Council Rock South coach Joe Houk whose team lost its first game to finish 22-1-3. "We saw them play against [Council Rock] North Monday night but that doesn't leave much time to prepare for them."

Downingtown East won the semifinal game against Council Rock North, 2-1.

Urban put the Cougars up 1-0 with his first goal a little more than seven minutes into the first period. DeFazio made it 2-0 four minutes laters.

"I saw Ian (Hall) streaking down the ice and he hit me with a perfect past," DeFazio said.

Urban's second goal made it 3-0 early in the second period. Grilli cut that to 3-1 with his goal with 59 seconds left in the period. When South's Jonathon Houk scored early in the third period, it looked like the Golden Hawks were rallying. But a goal by Hall and some standout goaltending by the Cougars' Ryan Lord cut it short.

Downingtown East   2 1 1 - 4

Council Rock South   0 1 1 - 2

Goals: DE-Ryan Urban 2, David DeFazio, Ian Hall. CRS: Patrick Grilli, Jonathon Houk.

Saves: DE-Ryan Lord 22. CRS: David Chiokadze 24.