Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

ERIE This report was provided by McDowell Hockey McDowell Trojans - 5 Penn-Trafford Warriors - 2 ERIE - Throughout a hockey season, every team plays a couple of games that can be considered a test of their character. The McDowell Trojan varsity team played just such a game Wednesday night at the JMC Ice Arena versus the Penn-Trafford Warriors. And to the credit of the Trojan skaters, they came away with a renewed sense of optimism after disposing of the Warriors by the final score of 5-2 on the strength of two goals and an assist by junior Andy Kohler. McDowell came into the game with every reason to be flat. Their 1-2 start to the season included shut-out losses to league powers Meadville (4-0) and Bethel Park (7-0) which sandwiched their only win of the young season, a narrow 2-1 victory over a mediocre Seneca Valley team. Penn-Trafford made the trip north with a quick 4-0 start to the season having outscored their opponents 18-6. Included in their victory total was a 2-1 win last week at Meadville that propelled them to a #3 ranking in the PIHL this week. Their early success is no surprise to the rest of the league as it comes on the heels of a 17-7-1 record last year which was good for a #7 seed in the playoffs. After beating North Hills in an opening round game, they narrowly lost in the quarterfinals to eventual AAA state champion Bethel Park by the score of 2-1. So the Trojans would figure to have their work cut out for them if they were going to get the train back on the track. But if nothing else, McDowell was playing this important contest on home ice. And Coach Mancini’s game plan for success was simple: come out of the locker room flying and take advantage of the road weary Warriors by aggressively dictating play and putting their opponent on their heels. And McDowell would respond with success. McDowell went on the attack from the opening face-off and put immediate pressure in the offensive zone. The tenacity, determination and aggressiveness that the Trojans lacked in their three previous games was suddenly unleashed with a sudden fury. Penn-Trafford goalie Joel Sterniak would thwart the early onslaught by covering up Trojan winger Ryan Presnar’s hard shot from the point just 57 seconds into the game. But Jimmy Martin would win the ensuing face-off, and it would take just five seconds for Presnar to tip the puck to Andy Kohler who quickly swept the puck past an unsuspecting Sterniak and the Trojans had a quick 1-0 lead just 1:02 into the game. McDowell would stay on the attack and dominate possession early by generating pressure from all three offensive lines. And the dominance once again paid off as Ed Maras set up the next goal with possession of the puck behind the net from where he swung a pass to Brandon Oathout next to the net where he caught Sterniak off-guard by wrapping a shot inside the post from behind the net to give McDowell a 2-0 lead with 8:45 left in the opening period. With the offense clicking and the defense giving the Warrior forwards little room to operate, Penn-Trafford would not have a good scoring opportunity until B.J. Zagorac fired a shot high of the net at the end of a nifty give and go with 4:29 left in the period. The Warriors first shot on goal came with 3:35 left in the period, but Trojan netminder John Cleary was alert and in position to make a nice save. Despite having two power play opportunities and a 15-4 edge in shots on goal in the period, McDowell would not score again but would head into the second period with a 2-0 lead. But the second period would start off much like the first for McDowell. Martin and Kohler would team up in the red zone to feed Nick DiSanti who was positioned in front of the net from where he one-timed a quick shot past Sterniak giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead with just 1:42 elapsed in the second. Penn-Trafford would be given a chance to climb back into the contest on the power play when Andrew Sitek was whistled for boarding at the 12:01 mark. But the opportunity ended in disaster as Oathout corralled a loose puck at mid-ice and broke in on the Warrior goal. Sterniak was able to make the initial save, but a hustling Kohler was quick to gather up the rebound and put it past the prone goaltender to up the lead to 4-0 with 10:18 left in the second. Frustration was building on the visiting bench and took it’s toll as a Penn-Trafford skater was sent to the sin bin with a double-minor at the 6:53 mark. And McDowell would take advantage when defenseman Marc Mancini wristed the puck to the front of the net where DiSanti knocked it down and Matt Stahon slid it under Sterniaks pads, and the Trojans were in command with a 5-0 lead and 5:47 left in the second. The period would end without incident and the Trojans dominance in play and on the scoreboard was in direct relation to the whopping 35-8 advantage in shots on goal after two periods. But the third period would find the Trojans looking content with the 5-0 advantage and skating without the intensity and spark that got them the lead. Although McDowell played the third period more physical to Coach Mancini’s liking, they also hurt themselves by compiling three penalties. Cleary would come up big during the first penalty kill with a sprawling glove save on Warrior David Brammell’s point blank shot at the 10:15 mark. But Dan Hrovath would break up the shut-out for Penn-Trafford just 24 seconds later on a goal from in front of the crease. Eric Likar would also get in the act on the power play as his slapshot goal on a rush up ice would find the top shelf with 3:40 left in the game. But it was too little too late for Penn-Trafford as McDowell would coast to the important victory. Although the Warriors outshot the Trojans 13-9 in the final period, McDowell outshot Penn-Trafford for the game by a 44-21 margin. Andy Kohler finished the game with 2-goals and 1-assist while Nick DiSanti and Brandon Oathout tallied 1-goal and 1-assist each. Jimmy Martin added 2-assists. With an offense that looked much more improved and in sync for two periods with crisp passes and aggressive forechecking, they now have a foundation to build on. The next goal for Coach Mancini will be to capture that intensity and hustle for three complete periods of play. With the victory, McDowell evened it’s PIHL mark at 2-2 (6-5-1 overall) while Penn-Trafford falls to 4-1. The Trojans are now off until next Wednesday when they travel to Kittanning to face the Butler Golden Tornadoes in a West Division game at the Belmont Ice Complex. Face-off is set for 7:35pm. Goal Scorers: Penn-Trafford / Dan Hrovath, Eric Likar McDowell / Andy Kohler (2), Brandon Oathout, Nick DiSanti, Matt Stahon Shots On Goal: Penn-Trafford / 4 - 4 - 13 = 21 McDowell / 15 - 20 - 9 = 44