Central Region

Plum ousts Latrobe and Franklin stuns the Foxes in GCC Semis Plum vs Latrobe Plum Coach Stu Relnick looks back on last years PIHL campaign and shakes his head at the horrible start his Mustangs had, which eliminated them from post season possibility. While he is shaking it there is a smile, because this years squad is out to make hay ! Plum has waltzed through the GCC Invitational and has been virtually unchallenged. Enter Ron Makoski's Latrobe Wildcats, a quick maturing team looking to make a move for a AA Division title this year. Latrobe broke a 1-1 tie in the middle of the second as Ron "Jags" Jakubovic scored to 7:34 to give the 'Cats the lead and Aaron LaPresti loft a beautiful wrist shot over Plum goaltender B.J. Schreib less than three minutes later. Plum then scored a big goal late in the second on the power play as Lenny Blatnica took a back door pass from Travis Senchur to cut the Latrobe lead to 3-2 with only 1:19 to play in the second. Early in the third, Senchur tied it on a power play goal. Plum continued its onslaught outshooting the Wildcats 29-20, while Latrobe's Matt Bloom stopped breakaways on Blatnica and Ian Beitler. With the game on the line, Robbie Tunon finally beat Bloom, with a backhander on the ice with 2:10 remaining to send Plum to the Finals. Franklin Regional vs Fox Chapel When Franklin moved into the Center Ice Arena prior to the 1997 season, its club reaped the benefits of a brand new rink and capitalized by fielding two freshman teams. The 2001-2002 Panthers were built out of that development. The Panthers would face an old foe in Fox Chapel, who has also built a fine program over the years. Franklin came out flying as the Panther Line of Luke Baughman, Dave Molitierno and Joe Ferriero scored two goals in the first 41 secoonds. Mark Gigliotti added a goal at 8:31 of the first to stretch the lead to 3-0. Fox Chapel's Jake Werner cut the lead to 3-1 just 23 seconds into the 2nd Period, but Baughman closed the door and put the game out of reach with five minutes left in the period at 4-1. The Franklin defense only allowed four shots in the 3rd as the Panthers marched on to the Finals of the GCC Invitational.