Championship Bound
NEVILLE TWP - The mood in Seneca Valley’s locker room Monday night was one of celebration and accomplishment.
Minus a very hefty weight from the Raiders’ shoulders.
Senior forward Andrew Davis’ goal with six minutes, 14 seconds left in the third period put SV up for good in a 2-1 PIHL Class 3A semifinal win over North Allegheny at Robert Morris University’s Island Sports Center.
The victory avenged a pair of 2-1 losses to the Tigers during the regular season, but as SV coach Anthony Raco pointed out, it meant even more.
“We lost to them in the playoffs (in 2019 and 2021),” he said. “This takes the monkey off our backs. We knew we could skate with them.”
Monday’s result also ends NA’s chances of winning three straight Penguins Cups. Instead, the Raiders will make their first appearance in the final since winning it all in 2018.
SV (13-9) will face either Peters Township or Pine-Richland for the title at 6:30 p.m. next Monday at UPMC’s Lemieux Sports Complex.
The game-winner from Davis came after a rush toward NA’s net forced Tigers’ goalie Rylan Murphy to make a kick save, then one with his blocker. Davis was there to make sure the third attempt found its mark.
“The whole idea was to not play as individuals and we were just trying to get the puck on net,” Davis said. “We knew we had ‘em tonight. Honestly, I think we were their biggest competition this season and it makes it that much sweeter that this win came against them.
“It was our time.”
Nine minutes before he scored, Davis had a breakaway shot stopped by Murphy while the Raiders were short-handed.
Following the goal, SV goalie Jonathan Nichols denied the Tigers (18-4) four times. NA called a timeout with 1:17 left and pulled Murphy, but was not able to put a shot on net the rest of the way.
“People talk about all the wins we’ve had, but we’ve played a lot of close games,” said NA coach Mike Bagnato. “They (Raiders) outworked us tonight.”
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead when senior Connor Chi put a rebound past Nichols with 2:04 remaining in the opening period.
The equalizer came off the stick of SV’s Zach Regalski, who, after taking control of a Tiger turnover, blistered a wrist shot from just inside the blue line with 5:21 left in the second period.
The puck glanced off the top of Murphy’s glove and settled in the back of the net.
“I think we got a bit too aggressive with our play,” said Bagnato. “Rylan has been unbelievable for us, but sometimes the bounces don’t go your way. Sometimes, the odds are not in your favor.”
Murphy made 23 saves for the Tigers. Nichols stopped 22 shots for SV.
