Shaler Titans

HARMARVILLE - Coach Brian Hershberger's North Allegheny squad waltzed through the last years Fall Face-Off and won the championship and frankly made it look easy and the question was could they do it again. With tight one goal victories over Plum and Shaler, the Tigers were looking for one more win to repeat. Franklin Regional, on the other hand was looking to exercise some demons of past St Margarets and North Allegheny. The Panthers reached the finals in 1996 and 1997 only to lose to Fox Chapel both times....well that wasn't happening this time because FR extinguished the Foxes 7-3 in Tuesday's semi finals. OK ....captain Mike Roth and his linemate Jimmie Daugherty had another reason and it was the double overtime loss to NA in the second round of last years playoffs which they had vowed to not let happen again. Add on the Panther Head Coach Jim Damp was a former Tiger coach, well then there was some real motivation ! .....And it didn't take long to see that motivation as just 3:45 into the opening frame, Daugherty took the puck in the NA zone turned and ripped a slapper past Bobby Daly to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. At the other end Brandon Stallard was stoning any and all Tiger threats. Late in the period Daugherty beat the NA defense to the puck and slid a beautiful pass to Mike Roth, who made no mistake deking Daly to make it 2-0. On to the second and Franklin showed its depth as David Hopper snapped one by Daly 3-0. Luke Baughman added another tally midway through the period as Stallard looked like Ken Dryden at the other end in shutting out NA. In the third, Franklin was looking for some salt to NA's wound and Joe Ferrierro provided it to put Franklin on top 5-0. The Panthers continued pressing and the Tigers were realing. Then NA's Brandon Lied finally got his team on the board at 11:14 to make it 5-1. The Tigers scored two more goals in the games final minute by Matt Zrebiac and Bill Waldschmidt to attempt a furious rally, but Roth added an empty netter and Franklin won its first St Margarets Championship 6-3.