Plum Mustangs - 1989 A

CRANBERRY - North Allegheny [12-1-0] ranked # 1 in the Post Gazette and Penn Trafford [10-3-0] ranked # 5 in the PG in a rematch of a game in which North Allegheny defeated Penn Trafford in the Pa Hockey Scholastic Showcase Medal Round Semi-Finals on 12/28/04 by the score of 3-1 and went on to defeat Bethel Park in the Director’s Cup Final 5-1. Coach Tom Pandolfo’s squad started off the 2nd half of the season with an impressive 4-0 win over first place Plum in the East and would be looking to knock off three division leaders in a row including PT and Bethel Park in successive games. Penn Trafford out to send a message to Western Pennsylvania that they intend to put their hat in the ring when the Penguins Cup playoffs begin in March. Penn Trafford would line up without leading scorer Chris Cerutti who had reindeer practice this evening, but would have crafty Nick Whaley, who did not face the Tigers in the Showcase. At 4:41 of the 1st Period Paul Dittrich scored from the right point on a shot through traffic, which PT netminder Joel Sterniak may have not been able to pick up through the screen for a 1-0 North Allegheny lead. NA outshot PT 26-3 in the opening period. At 7:26 of the 2nd Period, Garrett Waldschmidt picked up a loose puck on a Matt Pekins rebound to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. The Tigers continued their dominance by outshooting the Warriors 16-3 and Joel Sterniak made several very good saves to keep his team in the game. In the third, NA struck quickly as Chris Simanic beat Sterniak on the ice to extend the lead to 3-0 at 13:34. Penn Trafford went on the power play at 11:55 with a chance to break the shutout and get back in the game, but where whistled for a penalty at 11:02 to nullify the opportunity. The Warriors did capitalize at 8:37 as Dan Sidle scored on the power play beating Jeff Kristan on the short side to tighten the game at 3-1. North Allegheny just put the puck possession game and defensive game into high gear the final 8 + minutes and stuffed the Warriors in their back pocket and another win for the Tigers.