Butler Toronadoes

MONROEVILLE - For all of us scoreboard watchers, we know that Penn Hills defeated McDowell a week or so ago 3-2 and this was the same McDowell team which blasted Connellsville early in the season 20-0. So on paper Penn Hills should have had an easy time with the Falcons. A couple of factors would play a part in this matchup as the Indians were playing the second game in 24 hours and Connellsville is coming off a week in which they broke a 30 game winless streak and playing with a new found confidence. Coach Mark Romesburg was hoping to catch Penn Hills by surprise and capture their first ever victory over the Indians. The Falcons came out flying in the first period and took a 2-0 lead on goals by Keith Cordaro at 10:53 and Mike Brooks at 9:05. Connellsville tried to build on that lead early in the second but Zach Cullen stopped Jacob Shelkey on the shorthanded breakaway at 14:32. On the ensuing face-off, Cordaro scored his second goal on a wrist shot low on the stick side and all the sudden it was 3-0 Falcons. Connellsville had several good opportunities to take a 4-0 lead but couldn't do it. Penn Hills got on the board at 10:10 as Jay Gilardo scored to make it 3-1. Then at 6:47, Willie Banks scored on his own rebound past Craig Cordaro and Penn Hills was within one at 3-2. The Falcons came right back at 4:17 as, as captain Zach Ebbert beat Cullen through the 5 hole and the score stood at 4-2 going to the third. The Indians Ryan Jones pulled his team within one at 12:29 on a shorthanded tally as he outraced the Falcon defense to the puck and slipped it past Cordaro. The Falcons would not be denied as Keith Cordaro scored at 11:08 to regain the two goal cushion. Jacob Shelkey added two insurance goals as the Connellsville Falcons went on to win for the 2nd time in 3 games 7-3.