PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs roundup: Indiana edges Kiski Area in Class AA

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 | 10:42 PM

Kiski Area and Indiana were tied at three at the end of the second period of their PIHL Class A first-round game at Indiana's S&T Bank Arena.

But the No. 5 Indians broke the tie with seven minutes left, added an empty-net tally and came away with a 5-4 victory over the No. 12 Cavaliers.

Indiana (16-5) moves onto the semifinals and will face No. 4 West Allegheny on Thursday. Kiski Area ends its season at 10-11.

The Cavaliers got on the board first with a goal from Jason Zahumensky three minutes into the game and rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits in the second period.

James Ayres added two goals, including one on a penalty shot in the second period. He scored with 34 seconds left in the third to close the gap to one, but the Cavaliers were not able to get the equalizer before the final horn sounded.

Rowan Alexander also tallied a goal for Kiski Area, and Ryan Hastings recorded a team-best two assists.

Daniel Williams had two goals to lead Indiana, which outshot Kiski, 38-27.

Class AAA

Peters Township 2, Plum 1 — Despite being outshot 41-15, the Mustangs kept Tuesday's Class AAA quarterfinal game with top seed Peters Township (15-4) low scoring and close. But goals from Torrey Schwartz and Conner Gielarowski were enough for the defending champion Indians. Peters Township moves on to Thursday's semifinals and a matchup with No. 4 North Allegheny at the RMU Island Sports Center. Plum (7-12), the No. 8 seed, scored first on a goal from Logan Schlegel. Mustangs goalkeeper Sergio Benitez stopped 39 shots, while Peters Township's Adam Ulan made 14 saves to earn the win. The Indians defense limited the Mustangs to only two goals in three games this season.

North Allegheny 8, Butler 3 — North Allegheny scored five goals in the first period en route to a PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup first-round victory at Baierl Ice Complex.

Aaron Miller had two goals and two assists, and Christopher Hanlon added two goals for No. 4 North Allegheny (12-5-2).

Will Parreaguirre, Tyler Putnam, Haden Shimko and Collin O'Neil also scored.

Richard Karapandi made 33 saves.

Division 2

Connellsville 5, Elizabeth Forward 1 — Ryan Brown had a goal and two assists to lead No. 4 Connellsville (11-6-2) to a PIHL Division 2 first-round win at the Ice Mine.

Milan Deffibaugh and Paul Neighbors also scored, and Gregory Hensh had three assists for the Falcons, who will play No. 1 Moon (18-1) in the semifinals Monday.

Zachary Zapata scored for No. 5 Elizabeth Forward (9-7-3).

Tags: Butler, Connellsville, Elizabeth Forward, Indiana, Kiski School, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Plum