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INDIANA - Pine Richland came into their contest with Indiana with an unbeaten streak dating back to February 2000 since the Rams had lost a regular season contest. The Indians on the other hand, had more current history on their minds as they could overtake the Rams in the overall seedings for the Penguin Cup playoffs, which begin in a little over a month. To add to the fun, the Kittanning faithful were on hand to cheer on Indiana as well for the tight battle in the PIHL AA North division between PR and the Wildcats. The first period was tightly contested through the games first 8 minutes until Nate Nehnevajsa found a loose puck and slid it past Mike Lady to give Pine Richland a 1-0 lead at 6:48. Then just 44 seconds later Casey Haines walked around the Ram defense and lofted a wrist shot past Dan Mills on the glove side to tie the game at 1-1 on the power play. Then it was Haines again on the power play weaving through PR defense and feeding Mike Nesper who snapped a shot off Mills skate to give Indiana a 2-1 lead at 4:59 of the 1st. The Rams came right back as Pat Nicholas broke in alone and beat Lady to tie the game at 2-2. On to the second and Nesper put the Indians back on top with a rebound goal at 13:14. Haines then tried to give Indiana a two goal cushion and banked a backhander off the crossbar at 9:58. The freshman Haines was possessed and would not be denied as he stripped the puck from Pine Richland defenders and moved the puck to Zach Diamond who found Haines all alone for a tap in at 9:16 to give Indiana a 4-2 lead. Indiana was in complete control with a two goal lead and a 29-15 shot advantage. Pine Richland carried the play in the third period as they outshot Indiana. Finally, with two minutes left on the clock, Matt Kystra tipped in a shot from the point to cut the lead to 4-3. The Rams then pulled goaltender Mills for the extra attacker, but Haines stole the puck and completed the hat trick with and empty netter with just 54 seconds left. Indiana outshot Pine Richland 33-22 for the game.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Articles about Interscholastic Hockey dating back to 1998 !

Malvern Prep impressive in win over LaSalle MEADVILLE - LaSalle arrived in Meadville for its first game of the Bulldog Invitational at daybreak Saturday morning to play a three game series, which ended around 2:30 AM Sunday morning with an overtime victory over defending Bulldog Invitational champs St Ignatius in overtime 2-1. The result was a 10:45 AM date with Malvern Prep, who went undefeated in pool play at 3-0 ending with a 3-2 victory over host Meadville. The Friars were looking to avenge a 4-1 early season loss to the Explorers and stakc their claim to the # 1 team in Eastern Pa. Malvern broke on top in a quick first period as Warren Byrne's blast beat Matt Palmer to give the Friars a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Malvern turned up the heat in the 'House of Chills' with a 16 shot onsluaght on LaSalle. Mike McMullan, Ed Shinn, Andreas Wochtl, Tim Horn and Mike Curran scored as coach John Graves Friars put it on LaSalle with a five goal second. At the other end, Max Sorenson kept the Explorers off the board, except for a Matt Loftus tally at 7:25. Derrick Bowen added a third period goal as Malvern Prep won impressively 7-1 and outshooting their opponent 32-23 for the contest.

2004 Meadville Bulldog Invitational Prep turns back host Bulldogs and marches to Bulldog final ! MEADVILLE The PIHL North division was a two team race between North Allegheny and Meadville the past two years. Quietly, Cathedral Prep has climbed back into the divsion race and hopes to challenge for the 2002 division title. The Ramblers lost earlier this season to Meadville 3-2 in Erie. The first period was well played and both teams had scoring chances as John Freeman and Dan O'Sharuk kept the scoreless tie through 15 minutes. In the second, Freeman made a great stop on Christian Nickerson, who got behind the Rambler defense. Feeding off his goaltender's play, ECP's Jeff Dionisio elashed a wicked wrist shot past O'Sharuk to put the Ramblers on top 1-0. Then, with the Bulldogs on the power play, Sam Namey stripped the Dawgs defense and scored on a SH breakaway and all the sudden it was 2-0 at 3:41. Meadville came right back as Dave Moyer scored from his knees on the rebound to cut the lead to 2-1. Matt Rusilko banged home a Jeff Holabaugh rebound at 1:40 to tie the score at 2-2 at the end of two periods. On to the third and Dionisio scored a pretty goal as he gained the zone circled back and walk down the slot and used a screen to beat O'Sharuk on the stick side with 9:30 remaining. Then Dan Sweeney added an insurance goal at 8:46 and the Ramblers shut down Meadville the rest of the way for a 4-2 victory.

Malvern Prep serves notice to Western Pa ! MEADVILLE - The Malvern Prep Friars came to Meadville playing at the top of their game. A very skilled team with excellent goaltending, the Friars went through Meadville like it was a western town and they were coming through to send the message knowing that they would return. Malvern defeated Greensburg CC, Upper St Clair, and Meadville and then schooled LaSalle earlier in the day. Nels White's Cathedral Prep club is playin strong hockey over the past month and looked to be a formidable opponent for Malvern. The teams traded goals in the first and as they did earlier in the day, the Friars scored three in the second and added anther in the third for a 5-1 victory over the Ramblers. Chris Campanale tallied two goals and Warren Byrne, Tim Wochok, and Andreas Wochtl added singles for Malvern Prep, while Pete Zawistowski scored the lone ECP goal. Malvern outshot Cathedral Prep 27-10. Friar forward Mike McMullen was chosen the tournament most valuable player. As the Malvern bus left Western Pennsylvania, I am sure somewhere they left a note that they will be returning for a date in the Pennsylvania Cup AAA Finals in March.