Shaler Titans

JOHNSTOWN - Bishop McCort and the War Memorial are a place were opponents have come to and left with disappointment for many years. It is probably a good reason why the Crimson Crushers have visited the Penguin Cup Class A finals 9 of the last 10 years and head coach John Bradley would like to keep it that way. The Crushers are off to a running start again at 8-1 with their lone blemish to nemesis Serra, who has defeated McCort three years in a row in the finals. Mars was making their maiden voyage to the War Memorial to face McCort. Despite an undefeated start at 8-0 in which they have only surrendered 6 goals, many of the Planet players couldn't help think about last seasons first loss against the Crushers 2-1 and the game against Westmont where the Planets season took a turn in the wrong direction. In fact, to my memory Mars has never beaten Bishop McCortat the War Memorial and if they have it may have been before freshman 14 year old goaltender Brian Ross was born. Anyway.....in the first period both teams had opporunities on the power play and neither could score. The best chance came as Joe Delic made a nifty move past the Planet defense at 8:23 and was stopped by Ross. The second period started and it was defenseman Steve Meyers, who got the party started as he took a Bobby Beckert pass at the blue line on the off wing and buried a shot upstairs on the glove side to give the Planets an innocent 1-0 lead past Anthony Feyock. Mars played outstanding defense the first two periods limiting the Crushers to six shots. In the third period, the action picked up as Ross and Feyock kept the shots out of the net. Mars went into a defensive shell late in the game, which resulted in a McCort power play and a nail biting finish. The Crushers wre able to get 8 shot in the final frame but could not beat Ross and when Bobby Beckert intercepted a pass in front with time running out and banked it off the boards into an empty net as time ran out .....it was vindication and an excorcism of demons for the Planets with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Bishop McCort. The goal didn't count for Mars but the victory was just what they wanted out of their trip to Johnstown !