Downingtown East Defeats Plum for 2-A PA Cup

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 25, 2017 | 10:13 PM

If the 2017 Class-AA Pennsylvania Cup had theme songs, the title track for the Plum Mustangs would have been “It’s Been A While” by Staind.  After winning their first Penguins Cup and since 1989, Plum was looking to make it two for two in state title games as well.  But for Downingtown-East, as Foreigner sang “It Feels Like The First Time”, as the Cougars claimed their first Pennsylvania Cup in program history in their third state championship appearance, beating Plum 3-1 at the RMU Island Sports Complex on Neville Island.

Both teams arrived at this championship match mirroring each other in many ways.  Both teams came in rolling, as the Cougars and Mustangs had won their past 12 games each.  Both were impressive in their respective playoffs as well.  Plum cruised through the Penguins Cup, outscoring their three foes by a combined score of 16-5.  Even more impressive was Downingtown-East, who had beaten their four Flyers Cup opponents by the combined count of 30-4.  Both teams featured solid goaltending as well.  Plum’s Sergio Benitez, who was 2nd in Class-AA on the regular season in wins and had the top goals against average and save percentage in the classification amongst goalies with 7 or more decisions, had been strong in the post-season has well, going 3-0 during the Penguins Cup with a 1.67 GAA and .936 save percentage.  Jeff Cummings for Downingtown-East had a great regular season as well.  He was 6-2-2 in 10 decisions with an stellar 1.00 GAA, .956 save percentage, and 4 shutouts.  Cummings was just as good through the Flyers Cup, going 3-0 with a 1.36 GAA, .943 save percentage, and a shutout.

The first period, much like these teams above stats showed, was fairly even.  It was a clean first 17 minutes as well with no penalties called on either side.  Downingtown-East outshot Plum 8-6, and got the only goal of the period when Justin Cohn scored his 3rd goal of the playoffs with 7:02 left in the opening frame.  Cohn was able to put the puck behind Benitez on a second chance opportunity, as Collin Harple and Alex Fox picked up the assists for the Cougars.

The second period was a dominating effort by the Flyers Cup champs, as the Cougars outshot the Mustangs 15-3.  Downingtown-East extended their lead to 2-0 with 6:27 left in the period when Jon Carreiro found the net for the first time in the playoffs.  A strong forechecking effort by Luca Pisani led to the goal, as Pisani deflected the puck off of a Plum clearing attempt.  The puck bounced to the left of the Mustangs net, where Carriero found it and fired it home from close range for the goal.  Despite being outplayed for most of the period though, Plum got an answer 2:31 later.  Anthony Borriello made a terrific drop pass to Nolan Puhala, who ripped a low wrist shot past the outstretched pad of Cummings.  Puhala’s 4th goal of the post-season cut the Mustangs deficit to 2-1 with 3:56 remaining in the period.  Dillon Joyce picked up the secondary assist on the goal.  The only power play goal of the game though ended up being a big one, as Downingtown-East regained their two goal lead with the man advantage.  Pisani, who led the Cougars and the entire Flyers Cup playoffs in scoring, found the net just 2:38 after Plum made it a one goal game.  Pisani fired a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past the glove of Benitez, putting the Cougars ahead 3-1 with 1:18 left in the period.  For Pisani it was his 10th goal of the playoffs.  Eric Stankiewicz and Harrison Layne got the assists on it.

The Mustangs saved the best for last, as they brought their best period of play in the 3rd.  Plum outshot Downingtown-East by the count of 15-9 through the final 17 minutes, but couldn’t beat Cummings, who was strong in the final period. Cummings also earned the Chatham University “star of the game” by turning aside 23 of the 24 shots he faced on the afternoon.  The Cougars defense was also very good, shutting down the Mustangs top line, which combined for 13 points in the Penguins Cup win over Greater Latrobe, and holding a Plum team that was averaging 6 goals per game to just one. “From a defensive standpoint, it’s just all about consistency.  Everyone’s been really consistent, and it’s helped me out, and I’ve helped them out.   It’s kind of like we just help each other out” is what Cummings said of his effort and the effort of his defense after the game.

For Plum (19-3-1), a great season comes to an end with a hint of disappointment.  But despite the Pennsylvania Cup loss, the Mustangs won their first Penguins Cup in 28 years, in what was a very memorable and exciting season for the team and their fans.  After having lost in the state title game to Greater Latrobe in 2010 and Erie Cathedral Prep in 2015, the third time was the charm for Downingtown-East (20-3-2).   “It’s definitely really special, especially as a senior.  All the seniors, we’re so proud of the team and just the way we’ve played.  Everyone worked so hard to get here, and it’s just awesome” is how Cummings described being a part of the first Cougars team to claim a state championship.  With the Downingtown-East win, the Flyers Cup champion has now claimed three of the past four Class-AA Pennsylvania Cups as well.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period — (DE) Justin Cohn (3)  (Collin Harple, Alex Ford)  9:08

2nd Period — (DE)  Jon Carriero (1)  (Luca Pisani) 10:33

                         (P)  Nolan Puhala (4)  (Anthony Borriello, Dillon Joyce)  13:04

                         (DE)  Pisani (10) (Eric Stankiewicz, Harrison Layne)  15:42 (PPG)

3rd Period —  NONE

CHATHAM UNIVERSITY THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1st — Jeff Cummings (24 shots/23 saves)

2nd — Luca Pisani (1 goal/1 assist)

3rd — Max McAllister

Shots On Goal
DE  8  15  9  32
P    6   3 15  24

Power Plays
DE  1-3
P  NONE