Sports
USC Hockey Dominates on Senior Night
Six seniors combine for 6 goals and 10 assists in a 9-2 thrashing of Penn-Trafford.
For six Upper St. Clair seniors the night began with a walk down a red carpet draped over the ice with mom and dad by their side. A tender moment as the parents saw the culmination of many years of hard work driving their son to and from hockey practices in the early mornings.
Five minutes later, the parents were escorted off the ice and with the tender moments behind them, the players began 45 minutes of brutal hard hitting.
The six seniors (George Asrian, Ben Herman, C.J. Murray, Parker Philips, Michael Segerdahl and Justin Selep) combined for 6 goals and 10 assists in a 9-2 thrashing of Penn-Trafford. The win eliminated the Warriors from playoff contention, and locked up a bye in the first round of the PIHL playoffs for Upper St. Clair.
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The Panthers took control of the game early and often, out-shooting Penn-Trafford 45-14. Goals by Stephen Gielarowksi and senior Michael Segerdahl gave Upper St. Clair a 2-0 lead after the first period.
In the second period, USC's leading goal scorer C.J. Murray tallied 1 of his 2 goals to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. The back-breaker came with 1:20 left in the period when senior Justin Selep scored shorthanded to give USC a 5-1 lead after two periods. Selep had a great night; he scored twice and recorded 3 assists.
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The blitz continued in the third period. C.J. Murray scored the second of his two goals giving him 26 for the season. Murray had 2 goals and 3 assists in the game, and Michael Segerdahl also recorded a 5-point night with 1 goal and 4 assists.
USC goaltender Michael Ambrose recorded 12 saves for the victory which earned USC a bye in the first round of the PIHL playoffs which begin this week.
"It was a nice win. We're really coming together," USC head coach Larry Marks said.
The Panthers are playing their best hockey of the season at the right time. Their five game win streak heading into the playoffs is just what the head coach was hoping for. USC finishes their season 13-6-1 and hopes to win their first PIHL Championship since the 1989-90 season. They have lost in the semi-finals the past two years.
