CASTLE SHANNON, pa — The second half of the Ice Castle Southeast division Class-AA doubleheader featured a second-place battle between the Upper St Clair Panthers and the Hempfield Spartans. After falling behind 2-0 early, the Panthers were able to rattle off five straight goals en route to the 9-5 victory.
Hempfield took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Matthew Traczynski and Aiden Edwards. From that point, it was all Upper St Clair. The Panthers’ three all-stars, Quinn Giacobbe, Devin Rohrich, and Anthony Carone, all scored during the first half of the second period, respectively. Carone’s goal, in particular, was one that started controversy, both in the stands and on the ice. The referees seemingly missed an icing call prior to that goal that would have given the Spartans an offensive zone faceoff. Instead, the Panthers took their first lead of the game, a lead they would not relinquish. They added to that lead on a power play goal off the stick of Captain Joseph Pulit. The Hempfield Captain Jared Gerger got one back to keep the deficit at two goals after two periods of play.
Carone netted his second of the game for Upper St Clair 1:54 into the third period. Gerger responded four minutes later, the Panthers put two more in just 12 seconds apart, and Hempfield added one more in a last ditch effort to come from behind. The deficit stood at three goals, with the Panthers holding the 8-5 lead. With a power play and an empty net, Hempfield attempted a rally one last time until Colton Shiry sent the puck down ice for the Panthers and into the empty cage to seal the 9-5 victory.
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