Mars defeated Chartiers Valley, 3-2, in a comeback victory to kick off a PIHL Penguins Cup Class A doubleheader at the RMU Island Sports Center on Wednesday night.
Mars trailed 2-1 heading into the third period.
Before the end of the second, the Planets peppered Matt Colberg on a late power play. Mars had numerous opportunities, including one where Gavin Stevenson hit the crossbar on an empty cage.
Mars then looked to have tied it up when Bowser forced a blue line turnover and set up Jack Weaver for what appeared to be a goal. Nonetheless, it was waved off due to a kicking motion.
Weaver and Stevenson, however, got the goals they worked for.
Weaver headmanned the puck to Stevenson, who made his way past the defense and blew a shot by Colberg to tie it up 2-2.
Mars had all the momentum as the ice seemed tilted. This led to Xavier Bossola redirecting a Grant Weaver shot past Colberg to take a 3-2 lead with under four minutes left. Alex Gatto notched the secondary assist.
Chartiers Valley drew a penalty with under two minutes left. Despite multiple chances, and numerous Mars blocked shots, the Planets prevailed to head to the Pens Cup finals.
“Everybody just plays for one another,” Weaver said. “We have the best chemistry in the PIHL. We all want it for one another. We want to win as a team and lose as a team, and we came out on top tonight.”
Weaver talked about the penalty kill that sealed the game, as Mars killed a six-on-four when CV pulled its goalie.
“I went out there with a 1:15 left,” Weaver said. “Coach set up a good game plan for that kill, and we just got the job done. Gatto was blocking shots. I was blocking shots. Everybody just bought in there, and we got the job done.”
Grant Weaver set up the game winner.
“I was working low, saw him up high and put the puck up high,” Grant Weaver said. “(Gatto) shot it, Xavier got the deflection and scored. It was as easy as that.”
Shay Clark opened the scoring for Mars as Ben Bowser won a battle in the corner and centered the puck. Clark skated in from the point and blew it past Colberg.
Chartiers Valley then got momentum on its side, drawing a penalty.
Captain Brady Nairn took the puck from the point, made a Cale Makar-style deke and dished a one-timer goal as Noah Callender buried the shot, tying it up 1-1.
Callender blasted his second goal of the game past Adam Goul on a wicked shot over the blocker to take a 2-1 lead. Austin Tornabene and Dylan Shamonsky notched assists.
Nevertheless, Mars turned everything around. Despite being outshot 34-28 for the game, Mars’ defense shut down the Colts.
The Planets have one last game marked on their schedule.
“We just all bought into this,” Grant Weaver said. “The job’s not finished.”
Avonworth will be Mars’ opponent after putting on a show in the semifinals.
The ‘Lopes downed Moon, 6-2, as both No. 1 seeds fell Wednesday night.
Avonworth outshot Moon 37-21.
The ‘Lopes’ leaders were Jack Dolan and Brendan Hennigan, who both tallied a goal and an assist, and Colin Anderson, who mustered two assists.
AustinDzadovsky scored two goals and Randy Bevan had a goal and an assist.
Moon kicked off the game with a Clayton Foster goal that was set up by Logan Rieke.
The Lopes responded and tied it up with under a minute left in the first on a Bevan shot from the point assisted by Anderson.
Avonworth took the lead on a Hennigan goal that was set up on a pass from Dolan on a power play early in the second.
Dolan extended the lead on a five-hole goal on a rebound shot from Conner Ralston. Hennigan got the secondary assist.
Moon, with its backs against the wall, came out firing in the third period. Foster buried his second goal on a wicked snipe over the blocker of Danny Mack.
Dzadovsky got that goal right back with a wicked slap shot from the point. Anderson notched his second assist and Bevan added an assist.
Cooper Powell piled on as he forced a turnover on a penalty kill and went backhand to the forehand for the goal, going up 5-2.
Dzadovsky added his second goal of the game on an empty netter.
Avonworth will meet Mars for the Class A title at 8:45 p.m. Monday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.