Bayard Rustin Beats Franklin Regional in OT for PA Cup 1-A Title

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 25, 2017 | 5:40 PM

Sophomore forward Matt Owens, who had a hat trick in the Golden Knights 6-0 PA Cup win over Franklin Regional last year, was the hero again for Bayard Rustin as he beat Danny Soltesz on a breakaway 3:07 into overtime to give Bayard Rustin its 4^th consecutive PA Cup hockey championship.

Bayard Rustin had just killed off a Panthers power play to start the overtime as Ian Strasinski was called for a delay of game penalty after falling on the puck during a faceoff at the end of regulation. Franklin Regional was able to get a few opportunities in overtime and following the power play Oldrich Virag was denied on an attempt by the Golden Knights senior goaltender Jason Grande. Virag’s stuff attempt was denied by Strasinki who sprung Owens behind the Panthers defense with a stretch pass. Owens went to the backhand to slide the puck past Soltesz and the goal gave the Golden Knights their 5^th overall state hockey title.

The game was well played and close throughout compared to last season’s rout by Bayard Rustin. Franklin Regional took the lead 1-0 at (11:51) of the first period when Jamie Mauro took a pass from Mathieu Sliva from behind the net. Mauro took his time looking over Grande before firing a wrist shot top shelf for his 5^th goal of the post season and 35^th of the year. “It was pretty exciting to jump out and get the lead,” said Mauro. “It showed that we were going to play with them this year.” Cameron Huffman also assisted on the game’s first goal. Huffman would factor in at the end of the period in a worse way for the Panthers. The forward was called for high sticking at 15:33. He was also assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty for continuing to argue the call. After the period ended, Huffman continued to argue and was given a game misconduct penalty and was lost for the rest of the game for Franklin Regional.

The score remained 1-0 until 2:34 remained in the second period when sophomore defenseman Brett Turner evened the score for Bayard Rustin. Turner started the play with a rush into the Panthers end down the right wing but his shot was denied by Soltesz. Sophomore Nick Ferraro picked up the loose puck behind the goal line and his walk out attempt was also stopped by Soltesz before Turner nudged the rebound into the net to tie the game.

The third period was the time to shine for the senior Grande and the sophomore Soltesz between the pipes. In the best sequence of the period, Grande denied Mauro’s backhand-forehand attempt close in with a tremendous left pad save. “He (Grande) just stuck his leg out and made a really good save. I was too close to the net to lift it,” said Mauro. As the play continued, Soltesz was up to the task stopping Brock Weimer on a breakaway at the other end. Weimer scored the game-winner in the Golden Knights triple overtime Flyers Cup championship win over West Chester East. The same two matched up again with 5:23 remaining in the third period and again Soltesz got the best of Weimer. Ben Meisinger fired a low hard shot that was stopped by Soltesz who made a great stop at the post on the rebound attempt by Weimer.  The shots on goal after regulation favored Bayard Rustin 36-27. The Panthers, who scored just one power play goal on 13 attempts in the Penguins Cup playoffs, were denied on the man advantage to start the overtime which led to Owens heroics for the second straight season against the Panthers.

Grande finished with 28 saves to earn his fourth consecutive win in the PA Cup finals. Soltesz was stellar for Franklin Regional, stopping 36 of 38 shots the Golden Knights sent his way. “We felt that we played very well especially compared to last year,” said Mauro. “I think we had the better of the play throughout the game we just couldn’t get our opportunities to go in,” said the Panthers senior forward. The loss was only the second of the season for Franklin Regional who ended the year with a record of (20-2). Bayard Rustin finishes the season at (19-2-2) and with the win the Golden Knights joined some elite company. With its fourth consecutive PA Cup championship, the Golden Knights became only the third team in Pennsylvania to win 4 straight cups joining Bishop McCort who won four from 1994-1997 and Meadville, who captured 5 straight championships from 1992-1996.
 

Box Score:

Score by Periods

1 2 3 OT                Total

 Franklin Regional             1 0 0 0                    1
 Bayard Rustin                   0 1 0 1                    2

Shots on Goal

1   2   3   OT          Total

Franklin Regional             7   14 6    2            29
WC Bayard Rustin            14 12 10 2             38

Scoring Summary

1^st Period 

Franklin Regional – Jamie Mauro (5^th) (Cameron Huffman, Mathieu Sliva) 11:51

2^nd Period 

Bayard Rustin – Brett Turner (4^th) (Nick Ferraro) 14:26

3^rd Period

No Scoring

Overtime

Bayard Rustin – Matt Owens (4^th) (Ian Strasinski) 3:07

Penalties

1^st Period

Bayard Rustin – Owens (Roughing) 7:42

Franklin Regional – Huffman (High Sticking) 15:33

Franklin Regional – Huffman (10 Minute Misconduct) 15:33

Franklin Regional – Cameron Huffman (Game Misconduct) 17:00

2^nd Period

Franklin Regional – Thomas Rafferty (Cross Checking) 1:50

3^rd Period

Franklin Regional – Joey Grieco (Charging) 12:51

Franklin Regional – Grieco (10 Minute Misconduct) 12:51

Bayard Rustin – Strasinski (Delay of Game) 17:00

Overtime

No Penalties

Goalies

Franklin Regional – Danny Soltesz – 38 shots – 36 Saves

Bayard Rustin – Jason Grande – 29 shots – 28 Saves

Power Plays

Franklin Regional (0-2)   Bayard Rustin (0-3)

Chatham University 3 Stars of the Game

3) Danny Soltesz (Franklin Regional) – 36 Saves

2) Jason Grande (Bayard Rustin) 28 Saves

1) Matt Owens (Bayard Rustin) – GWG in OT

Tags: Franklin Regional