Wildcats too much for Knoch
KITTANNING — Kittanning has shown it can be an offensive powerhouse.
In Wednesday's PIHL Class A quarterfinal against Knoch, the Wildcats proved they can score anywhere at anytime, erupting for seven second-period goals in a 9-3 win over the Knights.
Jake Enders led the way with four goals, and Troy Schall and Jordan Ford added two goals apiece to the win.
"Kittanning is such a high-powered team," said Knoch assistant coach Tom Eshelman. "They throw a lot of shots on net and that was evident tonight.
"We thought we could try and exploit their weaknesses, but there's not many weaknesses for them," he added.
The Wildcats, who earned their eighth consecutive win, have outscored their opponents 200-55 this year. The team boasts seven players with 35 or more points and 10 players with 20 or more.
"We tell the kids, at this time of the year, if you win, it's a great game," said Wildcats coach James King Jr. "If no one worries about who scores, then everyone did their part."
Knoch (15-9) had a chance to score less than two minutes into the game when it had a two-man advantage for 1:18 but was unable to capitalize, much to the relief of King.
"We knew if they scored early, it could make it difficult," he said.
Schall got the Wildcats on the board with 8:36 left in the first period when he scored off a Heinz Koster pass.
Ford then scored nine seconds into a power-play opportunity to double Kittanning's lead.
Goals by Ford and Jurgen Koster in a 51-second span early in the second period, followed by an Enders goal 4:57 into the second period, made it a 5-0 Wildcats advantage.
Evan Gorse finally broke the Knights' scoring drought with 6:34 left in the second period when Matt Eshelman's shot was blocked by Wildcats goalie Cory Norton and Gorse buried the deflection.
Enders then scored two goals in a 19-second span for a 7-1 lead.
Gorse scored off helpers from Eshelman and Brandon McCarthy with 4:01 left in the period, but Kittanning closed out the frame with two more goals.
Schall scored 19 seconds into a power-play chance, then Enders scored 1:03 later on a short-handed goal.
The mercy rule clock began to run with 1:34 to play in the period.
"Kittanning's offense stole the show," said Eshelman. "They had a big crowd here. We knew what we were up against. We had a game plan and we tried to make it work, but it just didn't work out."
Gorse secured a hat trick when he netted a goal with 3:42 to play in close out the scoring.
The game marked the final contest for seniors Gorse, McCarthy, Neal Donnelly, Eric Egler, Ryan Naples, Roger Sepich and Nick Transue, who leave after the Knights enjoyed the finest season in the program's history.
"This team was 15-8 before this game and won a playoff game and that came after not winning a darn thing a few years ago," said Eshelman. "To make it this far in the playoffs, the kids should feel very proud from the things they had to go through.
