Baldwin Highlanders - 1975 & 1988 AAA

HARMARVILLE - Deer Lakes Coach Al Pawloski knows his team must win three of its last four to ensure a playoff berth in the upcoming Class A playoffs. The first task at hand would be a very high scoring # 4 ranked Freeport squad, who can light up the lamp and has scored 6 or more goals in eight games this season. Early on was a goaltending dual between Deer Lake's Richard Andemark and Freeport's Eric Gaworski. Andemark stopped Mike Bender twice from in close at 10:39 and 5:39, while Gawroski stoned the Lancers high scorers McIntyre and DiSanti on key scoring opportunities. Then Freeport's scoring machine freshman Nick DeCroo, who is a notable omission from the Class A PIHL all-star roster, went to work as he scooped up a Ryan Janoski rebound and shoveled past Andemark at 4:31 to give Freeport a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Deer Lakes fought back and tied the game on a goal by Tim Paul at 12:53. The Yellow Jackets answered in a big way 10 seconds later as Ben Lowry scored to put them back on top. Then building on the momentum, DeCroo scored again at 11:54 to begin a Freeport onslaught. Scott Gallagher scored on a beautiful shot upstairs at 3:05 on a Justin Gaworski feed to the slot. Then DeCroo took a nice pass from Gallagher and slipped a backhander past Andemark to make it 5-1 and complete the hat trick. Not to be outdone, DeCroo scored a nifty goal by banking his own pass off the goal around the Deer Lakes defender and backhanded a shot past Andemark on the short side for his fourth goal and to cap off a five goal Freeport second period. The Yellow Jackets outshot Deer Lakes 14-4 in the middle frame. Mike Bender closed out the scoring early in the third period and Freeport went on to a 7-1 victory. The win sets up a huge matchup with # 1 ranked Mars Thursday night at the Belmont Ice Complex.

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NEVILLE ISLAND - Upper St Clair has had a roller coaster season and head coach Warren Young's squad knew it had to come up big against a North Hills squad which has struggled of late. The Indians have not put the puck in the net which has led to a slump. David Andrews of USC looked to add to the North Hills frustration as the Panther goaltender thwarted some early chances by controlling his rebounds. Then the Panthers got the break they needed as Justin Lloyd found a seam in the Indian defense and beat Casey Dudt-Mulzet at 8:31 to give USC a 1-0 lead. North Hills came right back as Jake Congalton was part of a two on one and while the USC defender covered the back side, Andrews made the save against Congalton to preserve a one goal advantage at 7:04. Then it was Lloyd again on the off wing ring a wrister off the far post and Brandon Burns collected the rebound and fired it into an empty net to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Now in a hole, the Indians received several power plays chances throughout the 2nd and 3rd period, but Andrews came up with several key stops to preserve the shutout and give Upper St Clair a huge 2-0 victory and new life in the quest for the 12th and final PIHL AAA playoff spot.

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INDIANA - Pine Richland came into their contest with Indiana with an unbeaten streak dating back to February 2000 since the Rams had lost a regular season contest. The Indians on the other hand, had more current history on their minds as they could overtake the Rams in the overall seedings for the Penguin Cup playoffs, which begin in a little over a month. To add to the fun, the Kittanning faithful were on hand to cheer on Indiana as well for the tight battle in the PIHL AA North division between PR and the Wildcats. The first period was tightly contested through the games first 8 minutes until Nate Nehnevajsa found a loose puck and slid it past Mike Lady to give Pine Richland a 1-0 lead at 6:48. Then just 44 seconds later Casey Haines walked around the Ram defense and lofted a wrist shot past Dan Mills on the glove side to tie the game at 1-1 on the power play. Then it was Haines again on the power play weaving through PR defense and feeding Mike Nesper who snapped a shot off Mills skate to give Indiana a 2-1 lead at 4:59 of the 1st. The Rams came right back as Pat Nicholas broke in alone and beat Lady to tie the game at 2-2. On to the second and Nesper put the Indians back on top with a rebound goal at 13:14. Haines then tried to give Indiana a two goal cushion and banked a backhander off the crossbar at 9:58. The freshman Haines was possessed and would not be denied as he stripped the puck from Pine Richland defenders and moved the puck to Zach Diamond who found Haines all alone for a tap in at 9:16 to give Indiana a 4-2 lead. Indiana was in complete control with a two goal lead and a 29-15 shot advantage. Pine Richland carried the play in the third period as they outshot Indiana. Finally, with two minutes left on the clock, Matt Kystra tipped in a shot from the point to cut the lead to 4-3. The Rams then pulled goaltender Mills for the extra attacker, but Haines stole the puck and completed the hat trick with and empty netter with just 54 seconds left. Indiana outshot Pine Richland 33-22 for the game.