NA defense stifles Raiders on ice, 3-1
WARRENDALE — Defense and goalie play has been a constant for the North Allegheny ice hockey team this season.
It was again Monday night at the Baierl Ice Center.
The Tigers gave up just 14 shots on goal to Seneca Valley, which appeared flat for long stretches of the game in a 3-1 loss for the Raiders.
“I feel like the difference for us was it came down to who wanted it more,” said Seneca Valley coach Anthony Raco. “Our work ethic was not up to standard or expectations. All the credit goes to North Allegheny. They played with speed. They jumped on plays. They won battles on the boards.”
Neither offense was particularly successful at launching any kind of sustained attack.
The two teams played a scoreless first period in which they combined for just 10 shots on goal.
North Allegheny dominated play in the second period, giving up just two shots to Seneca Valley while getting nine itself. A goal off the stick of Dawson Richard off an assist by Tyler Dunderstadt eight minutes into the period gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Cameron Sunseri made it 2-0 three minutes into the third period.
Seneca Valley (6-3-1) got new life when Tyler Murphy scored on a power play five minutes later.
It stayed 2-1 until very late. The Raiders were unable to pull goalie Dylan Sloat as North Allegheny kept possession of the puck for nearly two minutes inside the neutral zone and Seneca Valley's end. John Parks poked a shot past Sloat with six seconds remaining.
“We have to get the puck up and get it deep so we can get the goalie out,” Raco said. “We turned the puck over repeatedly in the neutral zone. We're just not making plays when we need to make plays and we have to be accountable for that. I told the guys in the locker room in terms of work ethic and effort, it starts with me. I hold myself accountable for not preparing them the right way.”
North Allegheny (6-1-1)has now given up just 14 goals in eight games this season — six in its only loss of the season at the hands of Upper St. Clair.
And Tigers' coach Mike Bagnato couldn't be more pleased.
“We're big on puck possession,” Bagnato said. “We did a good job getting the puck and moving it. When we had to get the puck deep, we got the puck deep.
“Our defensemen, I would rather have our defense than any other,” Bagnato said.
North Allegheny is also breaking in a green goalie.
Ryan Heil, a junior, came up big Monday in the net with 13 saves. He leads the PIHL in save percentage through six games of action in his first year of varsity play.
“We lost two goaltenders from last year,” Bagnato said. “Ryan is playing well above what a lot of people expected.”
