There is a reason the Hempfield hockey team has the lowest goals-against average in the PIHL.

His name is Evan Saltzgiver.

The Spartans goaltender made 34 saves to help Hempfield to a 6-2 victory in the PIHL Class 2A Penguins Cup semifinals on Tuesday at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. Hempfield defeated Bethel Park in all three meetings this season.

The victory puts the No. 1 ranked Spartans in finals at 6:15 p.m. at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex against Penn-Trafford, which defeated Latrobe, 6-2, in the other semifinal Tuesday.

Both the Spartans and Warriors are going after their first Pens Cup title.

Saltzgiver made numerous key saves in the first two periods as Bethel Park pushed the attack. His defense also played well, especially on the penalty kill, including a two-man advantage for Bethel Park late in the second period.

Even though they were outshot 10-5 in the opening period, Hempfield had a 1-0 lead thanks to Nino Di­Pietro, who grabbed a loose puck, flung it toward the goal and it eluded Bethel Park goalie Logan Colella.

“Getting to the finals means a lot,” defense­man Nathan Planey said. “Evan is outstanding. He does a great job keeping us games.”

Highlights courtesy of Tenband.TV

Bethel Park continued its pressure early in the second period and tied the score 1-1 on a pretty goal by Kai Decker, who took a pass from Lukas Crisson.

“We had to power through,” Hempfield coach Mike Albright said. “We were looking to play a fast game, and they did a nice job slowing us down.

“In the third period, we used the glass and it opened up the ice for us.”

Hempfield took the lead for good a couple minutes later when Maddox Wills tapped in a pass from Nick Crupie. It was the first of three assists by J.J. Wiliams.

Penn-Trafford 6, Latrobe 2

Jordan Tucek had a hat trick and Zach Grkman added two goals to pace the No. 3 seeded Warriors past the No. 7 Wildcats.

Sean Goodman scored the opening goal for Penn-­Trafford and Grkman’s first goal late in the first period made it 2-0. Tucek scored twice in the second period to make it 4-0.

Goalie Tyler Funk saved 40 of 42 shots. Brock Bienemann and Ben Zierski each had four assists.

Highlights courtesy of Tenband.TV