HARMAR TWP, PA., — The Franklin Regional Panthers took one step closer to the Class-2A Penguins Cup on Tuesday evening after defeating the Montour Spartans 5-4 at Alpha Ice Complex. Zachary Zeto scored two goals for the Panthers in the victory. Zach Abdallah’s goal at the 9:58 mark broke a late tie.
After Roman Cicco and Jon Tokarcyk exchanged minor penalties Michael Felsing opened up the scoring at the 8:34 mark, taking the puck the length of the ice and firing a shot under the glove of Panthers starter Gunner Fulton. Zeto scored his first of the night :28 later taking the puck laterally across the crease and pulling it around Anthony Reinholt to tie the contest. Shortly thereafter Holden Wilpula picked up a puck in the neutral zone and finished off a short-handed breakaway to give Montour the 2-1 lead at the 9:19 mark. A penalty on Montour captain Anthony Migliozzi gave Franklin Regional a 5-on-3, leading to Zeto’s second of the frame and another loose puck gave the Panthers their first lead as Matty Knizer slid one into the net at the 12:45 mark.
The second seemed destined to pick up where the first left off, but the two squads couldn’t find the cage early on. Jeremy Freeman’s power-play goal tied the contest for the Spartans, but a late barrage and shot from the point by Luke Beatty with .3 seconds remaining in the frame gave Franklin Regional the lead.
Tokarcyzk’s goal off the face-off momentarily tied the contest for the Spartans, but Abdallah’s goal :54 later restored the one goal lead for the Panthers.
Fulton finshed with 26-of-30 pucks stopped in the win, while Reinholt stopped 29-of-34 in the loss.
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Franklin Regional faces the winner of Baldwin/Thomas-Jefferson, who plays in the second game of the twin-bill
