Plum Mustangs - 1989 A

VALENCIA – When we last left our cavaliers from Peters Township, they were knocking Canon McMillan from the ranks of the undefeated before a crowd estimated at over 800 at Southpointe. The Indians would be without Gerry Raymond, Rob Madore, and Matt Lazzaro, again who don’t like the Pa Hockey game summaries, because I rarely get to cover them and this being a Thursday, we would miss their presence again. The Indians are currently tied for 6th position in Class AA, but are considered a favorite by many to repeat as Penguins Cup champions for the 4th year in a row and could drop to # 7 with a loss. Pine Richland entered tonight’s game with a 16-4-0 record in a battle with Indiana for the # 2 seed with Peters Twp and Kittanning left on the slate. Two tough games, which coach Jimmy Black’s club needs to become playoff tested after a crucial win in Indiana 4-1. Simple as it is that PR must win their last two and due to the advantage the Rams hold on Indiana with the final tiebreakers with less penalty minutes, they would secure the # 2 seed. The reality is that Pine Richland could avoid a full Peters team until the Penguins Cup semis if they get there in a tough Class AA field, where anything could happen. Justin Maharamas made the games first big save on Brendan Conlon at 9:54 as the speedy Ram beat the Peters defense. At 6:53, after a delayed penalty Steven Adams controlled the puck and placed a perfect shot low to the stick side to a perfectly positioned Phil Trombetta for an easy tap-in and a 1-0 Pine Richland lead. Jeff Hannan came right back at 3:44 scoring on a backhand after Dustin Roux won the battle for the puck out of the corner and tied the contest at 1-1. At 13:32 of the 2nd, Peters Twp went on the power play, but could not capitalize. After Josh Fodor danced around the Peters defense and missed, the Indians came right back and Chris Papciak would find a loose puck in the slot and found Brandon Tingle at the side of the net, who had nothing but net to give the Indians a 2-1 lead. Brendan Conlon responded with a goal for PR at 4:20 to tie the game at 2-2 from right on the door step. Phil Trombetta had an opportunity to give the Rams the lead at 3:34, but Maharamas stoned him with a glove save. At 12:47 of the third period, Peters took the lead as Chris Papciak buried a snapshot to the stick side of Tommy Zajac for a 3-2 lead after a great checking effort by Jake Della Valle and Eric Windemueller. Back came the Rams at 11:31 as Phil Trombetta found a breaking Josh Fodor, who made no mistake through the 5-hole and tied it at 3-3. Tommy Zajac made two nice stops just moments later to keep the game tied. Maharamas stopped Trombetta from point blank, but Peters was whistled at 9:40, putting the Rams on the power play, prompting a timeout by coach Jimmy Black. Peters showed pretty good patience keeping PR on the perimeter and yielding limited chances. But at 6:07, Tommy DiDinato delivered a huge goal intercepting a pass and beating Marahamas with a wrist shot through the 5-hole for a 4-3 Pine Richland lead. Evan Goetz nearly gave PR a 2-goal lead with 4:25 left, but the Peters goaltender stopped the puck before it crossed the line. Tommy Zajac stopped a great chance on Dustin Roux at 2:38 with a glove save. Play ended in a scramble around the Pine Richland net and the Rams held on for a 4-3 victory.