Penn-Trafford looks to finish off improbable Penguins Cup run with title

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, March 17, 2024 | 9:27 PM

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Penn-Trafford stumbled into the 2024 PIHL Class 2A Penguins Cup tournament, losing seven of its final eight games.

But it’s been a different Penn-Trafford team in the playoffs, and now it is one victory from the program’s first Pens Cup title.

Penn-Trafford faces No. 2 Thomas Jefferson at 6:15 p.m. Monday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

Penn-Trafford defeated top seed South Fayette, 4-3, to open the playoffs then knocked No. 4 Norwin, 6-3, in the semifinals.

P-T is the first eighth-seeded team since Canon-McMillan in 2010 to reach the finals. The Big Macs went on to win the title.

Penn-Trafford looks to do the same.

During the two playoff victories, eight players have scored goals. Drew Hall and Gavin Patterson have two goals each, and Ben Zierski, Cam Kiste, Robert Thatcher, Aiden Drotos, Kyler Doran and Jack Blank have one each.

Goaltender Tyler Funk has made 55 saves. Adding Funk to the roster has given the Warriors stability in the net.

“Tyler has played well,” Penn-Trafford coach Chris Cerutti said. “Gavin scored a big goal in the first playoff win against South Fayette.

“After that win, we were riding high. But it helped that we were playing Norwin. We talk about highs and lows. We’ve lost to the worst teams in the league, and we’ve beaten the best. We beat Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette and Latrobe.”

Penn-Trafford and Thomas Jefferson split their games during the regular season, with the Warriors winning 3-2 on Dec. 7 but losing 5-1 on Jan. 16.

“They’re a good team,” Thomas Jefferson coach John Zeiler said. “They’re a big team with a lot of skill and good goaltending. It’s going to be a battle for sure.”

The Jaguars struggled in their first playoff game, edging Hempfield, 5-3. They busted out in a 9-3 win against Franklin Regional.

Jake Stock and Scott Allan had hat tricks against the Panthers. They have scored four goals in the two playoff games.

Against Franklin Regional, Thomas Jefferson quickly answered early goals.

“We answered back every time they scored,” Zeiler said. “We have a resilient team with a lot of seniors, and this is their last go at it and they are hungry to win the Pens Cup again like they did two years ago.

“Franklin Regional had a nice spurt in the third period that put us back on our heels. Our goalie made a couple nice saves, and it was a matter of time.”

Penn-Trafford hopes to continue its hot streak.

“It’s kind of what team shows up,” Cerutti said. “The key against Norwin was we held our emotions in check and kept our same mentality. The second was showing them how Norwin came back in the third period against Fox Chapel. It helped them stay focused.

“Now we have to get back to work. We’ll watch film and prepare.”

Hall added: “We had a great game all around. It was a great win for P-T. We’re enjoying the underdog role. We had butterflies at first, then we went out and kicked butt. I don’t care who we play. We’re going to win.”

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford, Thomas Jefferson