SALEM TWP, Pa. — It might be down to a two-team race in the PIHL’s Single-A Eastern Conference.
After Indiana beat Kiski Area, 3-1 at Center Ice Arena Monday night, the Indians are now in second place and at four points back, are the only team that seems capable of challenge the dominance of unbeaten Franklin Regional.
The victory was a sound one, as well. The Indians got a hat trick from all-everything forward Pat O’Neal and while they couldn’t capitalize on eight power-play chances, the Indians held Kiski to just one shot in the opening frame and the momentum from that first helped them skate to an important victory over the third-place Cavaliers. The IHS effort included strong two-way play from O’Neal and forward Ethan Boyer, as the team’s two leading goal scorers also helped shut down a dangerous Kiski offense that features Single-A’s fourth-leading scorer in Austin Lapiana.
“They bought into our system. They have to play both ends,” head coach Jordan Haines said of his skilled forwards working the backcheck. “My system is that if they don’t play defense, they don’t play. I don’t want to have to outscore teams by four or five goals every time. … They bought into the system. They back check as hard as they forecheck. If that ever changes, there’s other guys that can take their spot.”
Indiana forward Pat O’Neal works the back check as Madison Barker holds on for a save. — BRIAN MITCHELL
O’Neal scored his first 6:32 into the game to open the scoring as the Indians outshot the Cavaliers 14-1 in the opening frame. Kiski goaltender Alex Ferraro kept Indiana from being able to push the advantage.
“[Ferraro] is by far the best in the league,” Haines said. “He’s fantastic. When it mattered, he made saves. Even on the goals, he made the first saves.”
O’Neal got his second with 9:39 to play in the third period, but the latter half of the game was dominated territorially by the Cavaliers, who came all the way back to lead in shots, 25-24 for the evening. But Indiana netminder Madison Barker was more than up to the task, only surrendering a shutout when Nicholas Wallace broke through for a power play goal with 4:28 to play.
Haines said Barker has been working on making second and third saves, and that work seemingly paid off, as she allowed just the one goal while making 23 saves, the second-highest total of the season.
“She’s doing very, very well,” he said.
Barker was appreciative of the defensive effort. After giving up 45 shots against Bishop McCort on Jan. 12, the Indians tightened things up against the Cavaliers.
“They played really well [in front of me],” she said. “There were a couple breakdowns, but I think we really got it together. … It’s really nice to know that they’ll come back and help you out if you need it. It’s a great opportunity to be able to play with really talented players.
With the Cavaliers dispatched, the Indians can go back to scoreboard watching when the 14-0-0 Panthers host Bishop McCort on Thursday. The battle for first place is right at the top of the mind of the team, and Haines hasn’t dampened that feeling one bit.
“We’re four points out of first place,” he said. “Our goal is to be in first place. That’s our message, that’s it. First place. Constantly. That’s all we want. We don’t want to just make the playoffs, we want to be in first place.”
It’ll be a tall test to catch the Panthers, who have allowed just six goals while scoring 102 in their impressive undefeated run. The Indians do have one thing in their favor — they get one more crack at Franklin on the ice. The teams will meet at Center Ice on Tuesday, Feb. 14 in a battle that will probably not contain as much love as its Valentine’s Day place on the calendar suggests.
“We’re focusing on it,” Barker said. “I think we can take them.”
