PIHL Penguins Cup: Mars still has ‘something to be proud of’ after Class A title loss to Avonworth
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Mars' Gavin Stevenson (11) carries the puck passed an Avonworth defender in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Matthew Lestitian (64) gets ready for a face-off against Avonworth in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Grant Weaver (9) battles for the puck against Avonworth in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Adam Goul (29) readies to stop a shot by an Avonworth player in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Grant Weaver (9) takes the puck into the neutral zone against Avonworth in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Max Zagorski (12) plays the puck in his defensive end against Avonworth in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Xavier Bossola (50) takes the puck from teammate Grant Weaver (9) during a scrum with Avonworth along the boards in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class 3A championship game Monday, March 17, 2025, at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
CRANBERRY TWP — Fast starts had become a theme during Mars hockey’s 14-game winning streak that landed it in the Penguins Cup Class A final.
The Planets scored the first goal in each of those wins, and they all came in the first period.
In Monday’s championship game, the Planets felt the sting of being on the opposite end of an early barrage as Avonworth scored a pair of goals less than three-and-a-half minutes into the game.
Mars never recovered in suffering a 7-1 loss at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
“It definitely shocked us,” Mars coach Cody Black said of the early 2-0 deficit. “But we’ve been down before and came back. It just wasn’t our night.”
Leading the way for the Antelopes (19-5) was forward Austin Dzadovsky, who scored five times. His goal just 33 seconds into the second period, which put Avonworth up 4-0, gave him a hat trick.
Dzadovsky scored just 15 seconds after teammate Jimmy Shields broke the ice 3:13 into the game for the 2-0 edge.
The former now has 27 goals on the season.
“He’s a true leader,” Avonworth coach Chris Chiusano said of Dzadovsky. “He came prepared and ready to play tonight.
“Scoring two quick ones like that, against a team that hasn’t faced a whole lot of adversity, maybe some doubt started to creep in.”
Mars, which had not lost since a setback against Wheeling Park in mid-November, averaged over six goals per game during its winning streak.
It managed just 17 shots on goal Monday compared to 39 for Avonworth.
The Planets (20-4) had a chance to earn a much needed spark near the end of the first period when Avonworth, up 3-0 at the time, was whistled for a hooking penalty. But on the ensuing two-minute power play, none of Mars’ four shots were on goal.
“Playing with the lead, we didn’t want to be too passive on defense,” Chiusano said. “But our defense has been fantastic down the stretch, making good decisions with the puck.”
Mars avoided a shutout when Ben Bowser scored early in the third period, the final goal of the game. Gavin Stevenson and Jack Weaver had an assist on the play.
Conner Ralston added a goal earlier in the game for Avonworth, which received 16 saves from goalie Danny Mack.
Adam Goul stopped 31 shots for the Planets.
Avonworth, in just its third season of varsity hockey, will face Garnet Valley, which defeated West Chester Henderson in the Flyers Cup final, for the state championship Saturday at Robert Morris University’s Island Sports Center.
Mars defeated the Antelopes twice in the regular season, including a 6-5 shootout win in February.
“Not many people gave us a chance tonight, but we came out of that (second) game against Mars very confident,” said Chiusano.
Mars met with a bitter end to an otherwise great campaign. The Planets last won the Penguins Cup in 2015.
“It was a big step for the program,” Black said. “Obviously, it’s not the ending we were planning for, but this season is something to be proud of.”
