Seneca Valley hockey beats Pine-Richland in thriller on shootout goals from Cooper Hoehn, John Sroka
WARRENDALE — Seneca Valley hockey is used to putting opponents on the ropes, but the tables were turned on them in Monday’s PIHL clash with Pine-Richland.
The Rams held a 3-1 lead after one period and seemed primed to hand the defending Penguins Cup and state champions their first loss of the season.
But goals from Carson Lindberg in the second period and John Sroka in the third forced overtime, a three-minute span in which neither team was able to score.
The game headed to a shootout, and the Raiders prevailed 2-1 on goals from Cooper Hoehn and Sroka to earn a 4-3 win at Baierl Ice Complex.
“We just had to chip away,” SV coach Tyler Mesisca said of the two-goal deficit. “Pine is a notoriously good team and we knew it would be tough tonight.”
While SV goalie Chris Nichols made stops on the Rams’ first two attempts in the shootout, Cooper Hoehn gave the Raiders the initial edge by beating PR’s Will Hanner.
Noah Taggart scored for the Rams to tie it at 1-1 before Sroka buried the decisive shot moments later.
SV (11-0) tallied a 44-20 edge in shots on goal.
“We want to get some traffic in front of the other team’s net, put on as many shots as we can and see what happens,” Mesisca said. “That’s a pretty good recipe.”
But it did not lead to desired results early on. A pair of power-play goals in the first period from PR’s Cullen Campbell put the Raiders in a 2-0 hole.
Carter Hoehn answered for SV, but the Rams got it back thanks to Carson Verszyla’s score as the first period expired.
Key to SV’s rally was an improved penalty kill. The Raiders did not allow a shot during a pair of PR power plays in the second and third periods.
“We did much better in the neutral zone on those later penalty kills,” Mesisca said. “We did not allow them to enter the zone as easily and had some blocked shots, too.”
Lindberg’s goal cut SV’s deficit to 3-2 with 5:44 left in the second period, and Sroka’s tally knotted the game with 4:50 left in regulation.
These teams met in the season-opener in early October, with Seneca Valley scoring an 8-1 victory. The Rams (6-5) lost their first four games but entered Monday’s contest riding a six-game winning streak.
“At the start of the season, we were dealing with some adversity and personnel issues, about every excuse you can imagine,” Rams coach Jordan Yoklic said. “We’re playing much better hockey now.”
Hanner stopped 41 shots, prompting Yoklic to say: “He was the best player on the ice tonight.”
Nichols stopped 17 shots, and welcomed the shootout.
“I look forward to it. It’s one-on-one,” he said. “I tried to put those early goals tonight in the rearview mirror, but it was tough.”
The Raiders play at Upper St. Clair on Monday, Dec. 22.
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Seneca Valley celebrates after a shootout win over Pine-Richland in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley forward John Sroka (59) scores the winning shootout goal against Pine-Richland goalie William Hanner in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special Eagle
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Seneca Valley goalie Chris Nichols (40) blocks a Pine-Richland shot in the second period in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley forward Carson Lindberg (27) looks to shoot against Pine-Richland in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Emotions run high between Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley forward Cooper Hoehn (76) scores a shootout goal against Pine-Richland in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley forward Brady Watson (50) carries the puck into the offensive zone against Pine-Richland in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley forward John Sroka (59) celebrates after scoring the tying goal in the third period against Pine-Richland in a boys hockey game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at Baierl Ice Complex. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
