PIHL Penguins Cup semifinal playoff results from Wednesday, March 13th 2024:

Greensburg Salem 2 Shaler Area 1 (A)

Greensburg Salem scored twice in the second period and held on to upset Shaler Area 2-1 in the PIHL Class A semifinals on Wednesday at the RMU Island Sports Center. Dylan Marsden scored the lone goal in the first period to give the Titans a 1-0 lead after the first 17 minutes. But in the second period, Chase Kushner tied the game on an unassisted goal at 6:11 and just over four minutes later, a penalty shot was awarded to Luke Dieter. He converted on the opportunity to put the Golden Lions on top 2-1. Tristan Gonzales turned away Shaler Area's seven shots in the third period to earn the win in goal. He finished with 29 saves in the contest. Greensburg Salem advances to the PIHL Class A Penguins Cup Championship and will face Chartiers Valley on Tuesday, March 19th at 8:45 p.m. at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. The Colts edged Indiana 2-1 in the other semifinal.

PIHL Penguins Cup semifinal playoff results from Tuesday, March 12th 2024:

Penn-Trafford 6 Norwin 3 (AA)

The Warriors exploded for five goals in the second period, soaring past Norwin 6-3 in the PIHL Class AA semifinals on Tuesday at the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island. Drew Hall scored a pair of goals during that surge for the No. 8 Warriors, as PT turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead in a span of less than 11 minutes. Hall also dished out an assist for a three-point effort, which was matched by Kyler Doran, who had a goal and two helpers. Jack Blank and Robert Thatcher contributed two points apiece, Aiden Drotos and Gavin Patterson also scored goals, and Tyler Funk made 24 saves in net for the Warriors. In the loss, the fourth-seeded Knights were paced by Joey Vecchio, who had a goal and an assist. Additionally, Zayn Zeravica staked Norwin to a first-period lead with a goal, and Dom Constantino also found the back of the net. The Warriors, who already knocked off the top seed in the bracket, will face second-seeded Thomas Jefferson in the Penguins Cup Championship on Monday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry. The Warriors have never captured a PIHL title.

Thomas Jefferson 9 Franklin Regional 3 (AA)

Franklin Regional had no answers for Thomas Jefferson’s potent offense, as the Jaguars cruised to a 9-3 victory against the Panthers in the Class AA semifinals at the RMU Island Sports Center on Tuesday. The second seed Jaguars scored twice in the first period, added three goals in the second period, and scored four unanswered in the third to seal the outcome. The No. 6 Panthers struck just 22 seconds into the contest courtesy of Max Rutkowski, but the Jaguars answered 18 seconds later on a goal by Jake Stock. FR gained the lead once again in the first, but Stock responded just 19 seconds later with the equalizer. That sparked a surge of four consecutive goals for TJ, including all three goals in the second period. Although Nick Matus trimmed the Franklin Regional deficit to 5-3 early in the third, the Jaguars secured their spot in the title game by scoring four more unanswered goals. Stock notched a hat trick and two assists, while Scott Allan also registered a hat trick and dished out an assist for TJ. Max Williams had the only multi-point effort for FR, as he posted two assists. The Jaguars will face No. 8 Penn-Trafford in the Penguins Cup Championship on Monday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry.

PIHL Penguins Cup Quarterfinal playoff results from Monday, March 4th 2024:

Penn-Trafford 4 South Fayette 3 (AA)

The Warriors stunned top-seeded South Fayette 4-3 in the PIHL Class AA quarterfinals at the Mount Lebanon Ice Center. After the teams traded goals in the opening period, No. 8 Penn-Trafford took the lead in the second on a power play marker by Gavin Patterson. That 3-2 advantage stood until the final minute of regulation, as Robert Thatcher scored an empty-net goal to put the Warriors ahead by two goals. Although the Lions scored moments later, the Warriors hung on for the upset win. In addition to Patterson and Thatcher, Ben Zierski and Cam Kiste also found the back of the net for Penn-Trafford, while Tyler Funk made 31 saves to earn the victory. As a result, PT advances to the semifinals and will face No. 4 Norwin next Tuesday at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Franklin Regional 4 Greater Latrobe 3 (AA)

Three unanswered goals in the second period propelled the Panthers, as No. 6 Franklin Regional edged host Greater Latrobe 4-3 in the Class AA quarterfinals at the Kirk Nevin Arena in Greensburg. Shawn Sinclair, Brendan Yohe, and Max Williams all tied during the crucial stretch for FR, while Sinclair tallied the game winner with approximately seven minutes left in the third period. The No. 3 Wildcats, meanwhile, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of markers by Joey Crimboli, while Louie Amatucci deadlocked the contest early in the third on the man advantage. In addition to Sinclair, Williams also had a two-point effort for FR, while Grant Novotney made 14 saves. On the other end, Brock Pflugh made 18 stops for the Wildcats. The Panthers move on to the semifinals, and will battle second-seeded Thomas Jefferson next Tuesday at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Norwin 5 Fox Chapel Area 2 (AA)

Trailing in the third period, the Knights scored four unanswered goals in the final six minutes to claim a 5-2 win against Fox Chapel Area in the Class AA quarterfinals at the Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont. Norwin, the No. 4 seed and host, received a four-point performance from Dom Constantino. Additionally, Aaron Varrati pulled the Knights even on the power play, and Zach Singleton netted the winner just more than a minute later. Owen Burmeister was strong in net, making 33 saves to secure the victory. The Knights advance to the semifinals, and will play against No. 8 Penn-Trafford next Tuesday at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Thomas Jefferson 5 Hempfield Area 3 (AA)

The seventh-seeded Spartans played even with No. 2 Thomas Jefferson for the first two periods, but the Jaguars scored twice in the third to notch a 5-3 win in the Class AA quarterfinals at the Ice Castle Arena. Nino DiPietro and Nick Eberhardt scored in the first period for Hempfield Area, while Mats Martz struck in the second period. Evan Saltzgiver had a prolific effort in net for the Spartans, making 49 saves in the defeat. The Jaguars advance to the semifinals to battle No. 6 Franklin Regional next Tuesday at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Greensburg Salem 2 Quaker Valley 0 (A)

The Golden Lions clamped down defensive and goal Tristan Gonzales recorded a shutout in Greensburg Salem’s 2-0 upset win against Quaker Valley in the Class A quarterfinals at the RMU Island Sports Center. The Golden Lions, the No. 5 Gold seed, gained the lead less than seven minutes into the contest, courtesy of a goal by Luke Dieter. That lead stood until the final seconds of the contest, as Hunter Webb scored on an empty net to seal the outcome. Webb registered two points, while Gonzales made 27 saves to blank the No. 1 Gold seed Quakers. Consequently, GS advances to the semifinals, and will square off against No. 3 Gold Shaler Area next Wednesday at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Burrell 8 Morgantown 2 (Division 2)

The Buccaneers exploded for five goals in the second period, as No. 2 Gold seed Burrell outclassed No. 3 Blue seed Morgantown in the Division 2 quarterfinals at the Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington. Tyler Danko had two goals and a helper to lead the Bucs, who will face either Carrick or Deer Lakes in the semifinals next Thursday at the RMU Island Sports Center.