Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

DELMONT ~ The greatest part about the final week or weeks of the season is that you can sit back as an observer and watch the teams and the scores and pretty much predict what is going to occur heading into the playoffs. Gateway has had a rollercoaster ride this season and the final games have been pretty much the story of the 2003-2004 campaign. A 7-2 loss to McDowell and a 4-2 decision to Penn Trafford made some people think Gateway was out of the playoffs, but Lou Biancanello’s Gator’s are doing what its talent filled predecessors couldn’t, which is finding ways to win big games. A valiant effort fell short last Thursday against # 2 Fox Chapel 4-3 in overtime, which was shortly after two overtime wins against Latrobe 4-3 and Penn Hills 7-6 [when the Gators were down 6-3 with a little over six minutes to go]. This is a young team which seems to be finding its niche, who was facing elimination with a tie or loss. Shaler should have clinched a playoff spot several times over the past few weeks, but the achille’s heel to Ron Steedle’s club is the inability to score big goals when they need them against quality opponents and the ability to put teams away when they have the lead. A 4-4 tie to North Hills was the best example, when the Titans blew a 4-2 lead in the games final 1:25, but this is the tip of the iceburgh as Shaler dropped a 3-2 decision to Plum and a 2-1 overtime game in Erie to Cathedral Prep, in games where they held the advantage in shots and the territorial play, but could not bury chances to win the hockey games. This is a sign of a team who could end up watching the playoffs from the stands or be sent into execution against Fox Chapel, Meadville or Mt Lebanon, if it cannot produce some big goals leading to victories in the season’s final week. The not well known ‘Bash Line’ of John Shannon, Scott Kramer and Kevin Gladish for Shaler started the game in style as the came out in the game’s first minute and scored the opening goal the only way they know how, as Kevin Gladish crashed the net and Scott Kramer slammed home the rebound for a 1-0 Titan lead at 14:42. Senior Josh Huber, who never played Ice Hockey until this season, extended the Titan lead at 6:23 as he converted a Bob Snyder pass and beat J.D. Dominick for a 2-0 lead. Back came the Gators on the power play at 3:04, as Ryan Whitfield found a loose puck and beat Nick Bennardo into an empty net. The momentum of this game really changed with just 12 seconds remaining in the first period as Matt Domyancic did a great job holding the zone and just throwing the puck to the net and it found its target like it had eyes on it and the game was tied despite a 11-5 shot advantage for Shaler. On to the second and Gateway took the lead as Michael DeLorenzo converted a Matt ‘Pete’ Rose pass and beat Nick Bennardo at 14:23. Shaler poured 16 shots on Dominick, who was in control of his rebounds and frankly made it look easy against the Titans. Shaler apparently tied the game on the power play, as the puck clearly went over the goal line [according to people sitting behind the net and caught on tape as well] but the inexperienced referee was out of position and did not see Dominick swipe the puck out, which was a big break for Gateway and is part of the game. The Gators capitalized on a turnover in the neutral zone as Brennan ‘TP’ DiBasilio made a great play to steal the puck and a better pass to a streaking Michael DeLorenzo, who beat Ben Burns on the stick side for a 4-2 Gateway lead at 3:40. It was do or die for Shaler in the third period, as the poured twelve more shots on J.D. Dominick, who was just brilliant between the pipes facing 39 Shaler shots. With a little over four minutes to play, Grant Duss found Jimmy Duss in front all alone, but Dominick robbed him on a great save. Matt Yost did find the net for Shaler finally with 2:35 remaining beating Dominick over the glove hand to pull the Titans within one 4-3. Gateway would hold on, as Shaler pulled goaltender Ben Burns for the extra attacker, but could not score, which is becoming a story of falling short for the Titans.