Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

MT LEBANON ~ Mt Lebanon had a little coming out party on Thursday night pasting Central Catholic 7-2 and putting a little exclamation point on their # 1 ranking in Class AAA. Coach Paul Taibi now set his sights on a big matchup with defending Pennsylvania State Champion Meadville in a rematch of a 2-1 Bulldog win earlier in the season. The Blue Devils are looking like a team on a mission and would get to test themselves in a match-up, which many consider a possible Penguins Cup final on March 27th. Meadville coach Jamie Plunkett always likes to know where his team stands and he puts his schedule together in late summer accordingly to set the Bulldogs on course to challenge each year for the crowned jewel of Class AAA, the Pennsylvania State Championship. The Bulldogs are the defending champions and were unbeaten in 19 games until Thursday’s 3-1 loss to nemesis Bethel Park, who has beaten Meadville four straight times dating back to 1999 and maybe caught the Dawgs looking ahead to Saturday’s match-up with Mt Lebanon, which is a recipe for bad things in late February and early March and is frankly, may I use the term Un-Bulldoglike under coach Plunkett. The first period displayed end to end action with tight checking much like a playoff game before another nice crowd at the Mt Lebanon Rec Center as we settled in with Jamie Cummings and a visit from 1976 Pennsylvania State champ Head Coach and Mt Lebanon program founder Mickey McDermott, who its always great to see and more fun to visit with. The Blue Devils had the best chance of the opening period, but Danny O’Sharuk was sharp in stopping Eric Sloan, who found his way past the Bulldog defense and then stopped Tony Valerino on the rebound. The second period was much of the same until 9:29, when Billy Leckenby’s snapshot handcuffed O’Sharuk and trickled past him for a 1-0 Mt Lebanon lead. The Blue Devils turned it up a notch and looked to go ahead by two but Valerino could not find the open net at 8:28 over a fallen O’Sharuk and the Meadville goaltender robbed Chad Uddstrom on a shot ticketed for the upper corner. Meadville could not capitalize on the power play at 4:03 and Mt Lebanon almost went up two as Eric Sloan rifled a shot off the crossbar with just 14 seconds remaining in the middle period, as this one would be 1-0 Mt Lebanon going to third. Close hockey games are sometimes decided by a great play or momentum switch or possibly an undisciplined play by your opponent or a big hit. Mt Lebanon started the final period on the power play and was looking for the knockout and Tony Valerino provided it with a big hit on David Moyer in the third period’s opening shift. Moyer retaliated and received a 2 minute minor, a 5 minute major and a Game Misconduct putting the Blue Devils on a 5 on 3 power play, which was frankly, may I use the term Un-Bulldoglike under coach Plunkett and the Dawgs would have to survive without who many and I consider the best defenseman in Western Pa. Anthony Scarpino made a great play in killing of the 5 on 3 advantage and almost tied the game at 12:55, but a great effort by the Mt Lebanon defense deflected the puck wide of goaltender Matt Vaughn. This would be a turning point as the Blue Devils set up patiently and Billy Leckenby sprung Tony Valerino in behind the Bulldog defense, who place a wrist shot just over the glove of Danny O’Sharuk to give Mt Lebanon a 2-0 lead with 9:47 left. The Bulldogs fought back and poured the pressure on the Mt Lebanon defense and Vaughn for the games final 6 + minutes. Phil Siverd was stoned by Vaughn with 4 ½ left from just in front. The Dawgs finally got on the board with just 9 seconds left as D.J. Durkee scored on a scramble in front, but it was too little and too late for Meadville and Mt Lebo picked up a thrilling 2-1 victory.