Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

HARMARVILLE ~ Cathedral Prep Pete McCormick has inherited a hard working group of players which emulates ECP’s style going back over many years. The 2003-2004 season, what the Ramblers really miss in their lineup is the scoring punch of Jeff Dionosio, Kyle Rogers, Jon Merriott, and the others who have graduated, so Prep has resorted to hard work and playing on the edge to force opponents out of their game. Combined with a super goaltending tandem of David Schumaker and Ryan Zapolski, Prep was looking to make a little noise against Fox Chapel and get back in the North Division race. The Foxes have been quietly going about their business in an impressive 6-0 start and coach Keith Kearney would like keep it a secret as he has revamped the Foxes lineup through youth and balance. Where the Foxes may be very strong is between the pipes as Senior Todd Hendry has been one of Class AAA’s best goaltenders over the past two years and while the FC offense may become overzealous at times, the future public relations magnet Hendry has come up with some timely saves and has been real steady as the Foxes head into a real critical stretch of their schedule with Cathedral Prep, Mt Lebanon and finally a big divisional battle with Plum next Monday night. One of the keys to their early season success has been the Foxes ability to get scoring from up and down their lineup and early in the first it was Sam Stack, who opened the scoring at 11:02 beating David Schumaker. The game turned into a tight checking and physical affair, but Fox Chapel would score a critical goal from its top line as Kyle Misour cashed in with a little under a minute to play to extend the FC lead to 2-0. Prep did not concede and start to apply some pressure and the result was a great chance for Andrew Doyle alone in front, but a better save by Hendry who covered the net down low to keep the two goal advantage at 12:31. The Ramblers became a bit frustrated and took some undisciplined penalties creating a 5 on 3 for the Foxes. Joe Budz hit the post for FC at 10:28, but the Ramblers survived killing off the penalties. Prep was whistled again at 4:51 putting the Foxes on the Power Play and this time Fox Chapel would not be denied as Joe Budz and Matt Quigley banged away and Budz got the final stick on it giving FC a 3-0 lead. A delayed penalty gave Fox Chapel another power play and they cashed in again as Justin Kreps found a loose puck on the door step from a Sam Stack rebound and all the sudden it was 4-0 Foxes with 2:44 left. Prep fought back as Nick Longnecker and Andrew Callighan made a nice entry into the FC zone and Callighan fed Andrw Doyle, who buried a shot up over the shoulder of Hendry at 1:52 to put Prep on the board late in the second. The Ramblers had a 5 on 3 carryover to the third,with a big opportunity to get back into the game, but Fox Chapel was able to kill off the advantage. The Foxes put the game on ice as Jason Kreps [4:50] and Adam Petrovich [3:04] put the game out of reach for a 6-1 Fox Chapel victory and a perfect 7-0-0 record heading into a big showdown with Mt Lebanon Thursday at Valley Sports Complex.