Bishop McCort blitzes Serra Catholic

Bishop McCort scored three goals in a span of 1:32 early in the third period as part of a five-goal outburst to break open a tight hockey game.

Three players, Zachary Barto, Dane Domonkos and Kurtis Straw, each scored two goals for the Crimson Crushers, who will play Mars in the Penguins Cup finals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mellon Arena. Bishop McCort led 4-3 after two periods before outscoring the Eagles 5-0 in the third period.

"I think when we made it 5-3, it turned things around," Bishop McCort coach John Bradley said. "One of the goals, I didn't even get to see, but it came down to getting the bounces and getting the breaks."

Bishop McCort led throughout the game and never allowed Serra Catholic (20-3-0) to gain any momentum. In the second period, the Crimson Crushers went ahead 2-0 but, just 18 seconds after Eagles forward Jay Leppo scored, Straw reclaimed the two-goal edge for Bishop McCort.

Erik Manetta, the only 40-goal scorer in Class A during the regular season, again got Serra Catholic back within one at 8:52 of the second period, but Domonkos answered again 10 seconds later. The Eagles trailed 4-3 when Cory Beam scored on a wrist shot from the right point, but any hopes of an Eagles comeback ended with the three quick goals in the first six minutes of the third period that gave Bishop McCort a 7-3 lead.

Serra Catholic sophomore goaltender Garrett Hudson was pulled after he allowed seven goals on 22 shots. He was replaced by junior Brant Mansfield who was touched up for two goals on seven shots in the final 9:06 of regulation.

"Goaltending was a strength for us for most of the year and it wasn't for us here," Serra Catholic coach Brian Boehm said. "I won't sugarcoat that for them and they take responsibility."