In the first period, Council Rock South took 18 shots on goal but only one went in past Pennridge goalkeeper Jacob Winton.
Despite taking only 5 shots in the first 17 minutes, the Pennridge team scored twice and led 2-1 after the first period of the Flyers Cup AA final on Wednesday.
Winton said they expected Council Rock South to play hard, but they tried to match their intensity and come out stronger with each shift.
In the second period, Council Rock South tied the game, but only managed to score one goal out of 20 shots, while Pennridge scored twice to take the lead.
Pico emphasized the importance of scoring on the chances they had, which gave their team momentum.
Colin Dachowski extended the lead early in the third period, and Shane Dachowski completed a hat trick in response to Council Rock South's goal, securing the win for Pennridge.
Pennridge secured a 7-3 victory over Council Rock South at Hatfield Ice, winning the Flyers Cup for the second time in three years.
Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna praised the team's goalie for his outstanding performance, especially in the first period, and highlighted the importance of taking the lead against Council Rock South.
Montagna also commended the goalie for bouncing back after a tough league championship and delivering an excellent performance against the same team in the Flyers Cup.
Winton made 49 saves on 52 shots, while Pico, Savona, and Shane Dachowski led the offense for Pennridge in their third consecutive appearance in the AA final, having won the title in 2022 and lost to Pennsbury last year.
Winton believed that making crucial saves in the first period set the right mindset for the team going into the second and third period.
Shane Dachowski had a four-point performance, Pico scored two goals and provided an assist, and Savona contributed with a goal and two assists as Pennridge advanced to the Pennsylvania State High School Hockey AA Championship.
Montagna praised the team for their ability to respond whenever Council Rock South made an impact, highlighting the strength and resilience of the players.
Pennridge and Thomas Jefferson faced off in the 2022 state final, with Pico scoring in double-overtime to give the Rams a 4-3 victory.
“The job isn't done yet,” Pico said. “But I believe we just need to approach that game the same way we approached this game and score a lot of goals, while also playing strong defense.”
Wednesday marked the fourth meeting this season between Pennridge and Council Rock South, with the Golden Hawks winning the previous two, including a 7-2 win in the SHSHL National Division final on Feb. 29.
“They can have the small trophy, we got the bigger one,” Pico said.
Chase Tovsky, Gavin Nisenzon and Illia Muhkin each scored for Rock South, which aimed for their first Flyers Cup title since 2012.
The Hawks outshot Pennridge 52-29 but the Rams never fell behind – Shane Dachowski scored the opening goal as he converted a breakaway opportunity at 7:46 in the first period.
“We knew we were giving up shots, we were giving up certain shots to prevent other shots,” Montagna said. “The shots were real lopsided but there was a method to what we were doing there. And when you see a team three times and as many times as we’ve seen them for three years, you really get to know each other, so we had a gameplan going in.”
Tovsky tied the game just 63 seconds later with a shot from the left side. But the Rams took the lead again on a 4-on-4 play late in the period, with Tyler Manto passing the puck to Pico in front for a goal at 1:30.
“Manto made a move, I know he’s not a selfish player, I knew he was going to pass that,” Pico said. “So I made sure I was ready for that.”
Nisenzon scored at 16:37 in the second period to bring South level at 2-2. Shane Dachowski, however, secured the lead for Pennridge with his second goal on a power play at 12:42, taking possession of the puck from a faceoff in the left circle and scoring.
“He’s the best big-game goal scorer I’ve ever coached,” said Montagna of Shane Dachowski. “It’s absurd what he does.”
Pico increased the lead to 4-2, choosing to take the shot on a 2-on-1 break and firing it into the top corner for a goal with 3:22 left in the second.
“I’m always looking to pass first, I feel like I’m not a selfish player but D stayed in the middle,” Pico said. “And I think that shot was the right idea and it just went in.”
Colin Dachowski extended the Rams' lead early in the third, entering the offensive zone and firing a shot that found the net with 13:25 remaining in regulation.
Muhkin reduced Rock South’s deficit to 5-3 with a goal in front at 8:20 but Shane Dachowski completed his hat trick 40 seconds later – receiving a pass, tapping the puck past a defender and then scoring at 7:40.
Savona added a goal at 2:30 assisted by Colin Dachowski for the final four-goal margin.
