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Moon edges Connellsville in PIHL semifinal, 2-1

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

Shawn Hytla scored with just under three minutes remaining in the game Monday night to lift Moon to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Connellsville in the PIHL Division 2 semifinals played at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Hytla capitalized on a 2-on-1 break against Falcon goalie Sebastian Skarzenski after the Connellsville defense came up short on a pinch in the offensive zone.

“We made a mistake. The game came down to the team that makes the first mistake. We got caught in a pinch and it came back to bite us,” said Connellsville coach Ray Brown. “It’s something we worked on all season. But, we were trying to get ahead (in regulation). It was worth the risk. I can understand why.”

Goals were hard to come by in the three games between the Tigers, who finished first with 34 points, and the Falcons, the fourth-place team with 20 points. Moon won on the road at the Ice Mine, 2-1 in overtime, and defeated Connellsville at home, 3-1.

“It was a very close, checking game,” said Brown.

The Tigers scored first when Logan Zarin netted an unassisted goal at 2:57 of the first period.

“They crashed the net on the first goal,” said Brown.

Both teams fended off a short-handed situation in the opening period with Connellsville’s Ryan Brown off for cross checking just 42 seconds into the game and the Tigers’ Jeffry Zick in the penalty box for the same violation at 9:03.

The second period was scoreless with the Falcons surviving a man-down situation with Travis Sipple off for holding at 2:23.

Connellsville finally tied the game 5:21 into the third period on Michael McKitrick’s goal. Ryan Brown and Gregory Hensh assisted.

“The goal was a real nice play. The momentum shifted to our favor. We had them on the ropes,” said coach Brown.

Moon’s Zick was off for holding at 10:51 of the final period, but the Falcons were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage.

Connellsville pulled Skarzenski with about a minute to goal with hopes of sending the game into overtime. Skarzenski faced 39 shots, turning aside 37.

“We threatened. We had a little pressure. We just couldn’t finish,” said coach Brown.

Moon’s Lukas Konecsni made 28 saves on 29 shots.

“It’s always a one-goal game with these guys. (Moon) has a good, solid defensive system. We just can’t get over the hurdle,” added coach Brown.

The Falcons were playing a man down on defense after a suspension for a penalty near the end of the quarterfinal win over Elizabeth Forward last week.

“We were running five defensemen. It was tough,” said Brown.

Connellsville’s win against Elizabeth Forward in the quarterfinals was a first in the program, and Ray Brown is looking forward to another playoff run next season.

“We have a large group back and have some kids moving up. We lose one top-nine forward, Sumner Hartz, but we’re losing a lot on defense, Abrahm Thomas and Nicolas Joseph,” said Brown. “They understand the work ethic they have to put in over the summer. They are all on board.”

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