The Moon Area boys hockey team certainly showed a flair for the dramatic in its opening game of the Penguins Cup playoffs earlier this week.
As a result, the Tigers’ historic season will continue for at least one more game.
Landon Watson’s game-winning goal on a penalty shot with 3 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in overtime Monday – while his team was shorthanded — gave Moon a 3-2 victory over North Hills at the RMU Island Sports Center.
The overtime goal vaults the Tigers into their first-ever Penguins Cup semifinal game, which will take place at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, against Avonworth at RMU.
Moon’s postseason success shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the fact that the Tigers topped the PIHL’s Varsity A Blue Division during the regular season with 17 wins in 20 starts.
In Monday’s playoff opener, Moon jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Clayton Foster with just 11 seconds remaining in the second period. Jordan Rieke assisted on Foster’s goal.
The Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 with 10:37 left in the third period when Rieke scored off an assist from Logan Rieke.
But North Hills rallied to tie the game on goals by Cole Hunt and Christopher Muschar, the latter of which came with just 1:41 remaining in the period.
The Indians went on the power play with 13:47 left in the extra period, but they couldn’t take advantage. Instead, Watson was awarded a penalty shot 33 seconds later on an interference call, and he delivered the game-winning goal.
Also playing a key role in the win for Moon was goaltender Tyler Ziegler, who stopped 27 of 29 shots.
The March 12 semifinal game will mark the third meeting of the season between Moon and Avonworth. The Tigers prevailed in both previous games, winning 5-3 on Oct. 28 and 4-1 on Dec. 23.
Avonworth finished in third place in the Blue Division at 15-3-0-1.
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