Seneca Valley subdues McDowell in OT
WARRENDALE — These teams were fit to be tied.
Seneca Valley and Erie McDowell met twice in the regular season, battling to 4-4 and 2-2 deadlocks.
So when they faced off for a third time in the PIHLClass AAA quarterfinals Tuesday night at Warrendale BladeRunners, the 2-2 tie at the end of regulation was no surprise.
"Players are always looking for a 6-4 or 7-2 type of game," SV coach Denis Kirstein said. "But I knew coming in that one goal was going to decide this hockey game."
That goal occurred 9:26 into overtime when Raiders winger Brandon Platt fired a slapshot from the right circle that beat McDowell goaltender Andrew Ericson high to the glove side.
"I saw him drop his hand a bit and just cut it loose,"Platt said.
The 3-2 victory sends Seneca Valley (13-5-5) into the semifinal round against the winner of tonight's Canon-McMillan-Upper St. Clair game. The Raiders' semifinal contest will be played March 19 at Mellon Arena.
Platt's goal was his 17th of the season and the second of the game. Kaleb Schwab and Sam Jarrett picked up the assists.
<table width="300" height="275" border="0" align="right" valign="top" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><embed src="/assets/mov/BE65601312.MOV" width="320" height="250" autostart="true" loop="false" ></embed></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/" target="_blank"><span class="style11">Requires Quicktime Media Player </a><br><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Times New Roman">Video by Brandon Gerthoffer</font></span><td></tr></table>The goal was scored on a power play — the Raiders' second chance of the overtime — and came with 34 seconds left in the first extra session."We were running out of gas, really getting tired,"Platt admitted. "We knew we had to get one pretty soon."McDowell's Brian Barney was in the penalty box for slashing when Platt scored. The Raiders' first power play opportunity came 1:28 into overtime, but the team missed three golden scoring chances.The puck was loose in the crease when a McDowell defender fell on it. Moments later, Logan Pfeffer found Tyler Mesisca alone cutting toward the net, but Mesisca rolled his shot just wide.Pfeffer then controlled the puck while skating through the crease, only to have it roll off his stick before he could put it in the net.Mesisca took a penalty 5:39 into overtime, but the Trojans (12-8-4) managed only one shot on goal with the man advantage."But our guys blocked three big shots during those two minutes,"Kirstein said. "Honestly, I thought all three penalty calls in overtime were legitimate."McDowell coach Nels White disagreed."It showed the inexperience of the officials — especially the last one,"White saidSeneca Valley managed only four shots on goal during a scoreless first period. Platt broke the scoreless tie by cutting across the front of the net and sliding the puck just inside the right post with 11:33 left in the second period."Sam (Jarrett) made a great chip pass off the boards to set up that play,"Platt said. "I was surprised the puck went in. I didn't think I had enough room."McDowell had the lead before the period was over, however. Ryan Guzek knocked in a rebound for his sixth goal of the season four minutes after Platt's goal.The Trojans added a power-play goal with 5:56 left in the period as Jeffrey Clark's shot from the point was deflected high in the air by Raiders goaltender Ryan Schutte.The Trojans' Shane Reese deflected the falling puck into the net behind Schutte for his eighth tally of the season.Seneca Valley tied the game with 9:38 left in the third period when Mike Rohm deflected a Schwab shot from the point during a power play.Rohm's goal was his 11th of the year."This was one great hockey game,"Kirstein said. "McDowell's forwards really crashed our 'D.' You could tell they wanted to get pucks behind them."Our guys chipped the puck off the boards and got it deep a lot tonight. This is a big win for these kids."McDowell had a 26-25 edge in shots on goal. The Raiders scored on two of five power play chances, the Trojans on one of three.
