Butler Toronadoes

MONROEVILLE - North Hills has had a true roller coaster season in 2002-2003 as the Indians have had their highs in handing Bethel Park their only loss 1-0 and the lows in losing to a couple of sub .500 teams. Chuck Parkinson, has taken over the helm from departed John Daley and has the team at 9-7-0, which is respectable in the AAA South. Gateway would be looking to put a stranglehold on the AAA East Division lead and a little distance between themselves and Franklin Regional. Coach Dan Serakowski's squad has been tripped up by Cathedral Prep, Bethel Park, Central Catholic and Plum while winning 11 games thus far. In a scoreless game, North Hills Mark Rombach slammed home a rebound with 3:38 remaining in the opening period to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. NH was throwing out body checks like it was the first of the month including a bone jarring check by Tyler Cummaings on Matt Kopaczynski after the opening goal. North Hills contined putting good pressure on the Gators which resulted in an Indian power play a 11:25 of the 2nd. Off the ensuing faceoff, Mark Keyser gathered a loose puck in the slot and beat David Himes through a screen on the stick side and all the sudden North Hills led 2-0. Keyser scored again at 4:25 of th middle period on a nice give and go out of the near corner. With their backs to the wall, Gateway responded on the power play at 3:28 as Lucas Pepper scored on the rebound t give Gateway a big goal and cut the lead to 3-1. Pepper was not done yet as he would not be denied dring a big scramble in front of Casey Dudt-Mulzet as he scored with no time left on the clock and Gateway went to the locker room iwth a slim 3-2 disadvantage after two. On the power play, North Hills secrued a two goal lead as Keyser scored on th rebound at 12:15 to give the Indians a 4-2 lead. Matt Kopaczynski came right back as he caught the Indian defense flat footed and beat Dudt Mulzet high to the glove side and the Gators were back within one at 4-3 at the 8:49 mark . The North Hills took two undisciplined penalties to put Gateway on a 5 on 3 with 5:07 remaining. With the game on the line, Gateway was a little impatient with the two man advantage, but the trio of penalty killers for North Hills was fabulous limiting Gateway to mostly outside opportunities. Tyler Cummings made a huge play as he intercepted a back door passing play and cooley cleared it from danger tomaintain the 4-3 lead for NH. Te Indians would hold on for a huge win and more confidence as they knock off their second division leader this season.