History

By DAN SCIFO

PITTSBURGH -- Cardinal O'Hara senior forward Steve Falcone made sure "the Brotherhood" would go out on top.

Falcone's second goal of the game was the biggest of his career. It propelled the Cardinal O'Hara hockey team to a dramatic 4-3 double-overtime victory over Canon-McMillan Thursday afternoon at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, giving the school its first Class AAA Pennsylvania Cup and its first state title of any classification in any sport.

"I knew today was my last game ever of high school hockey so I wasn't losing this game," Falcone said.

Falcone's clutch goal meant so much more to 15 tight-knit seniors, known as "the Brotherhood," who ended their high school hockey careers as Class AAA Pennsylvania state champions.

"Every year, as a coach, I try to give the kids the best opportunity for the greatest memory and this is the ultimate memory for those 15 seniors," Cardinal O'Hara head coach Bill Swahl said.

That ultimate memory was created by Falcone and team captain Ricky DeRosa, two members of a line also referred to as "the Brotherhood," with 8:47 remaining in the second overtime.

DeRosa, who will play in the United States Hockey League next season, forced a turnover at center ice and skated two-on-two into the Canon-McMillan zone.

As two defenders converged on DeRosa, the Cardinal O'Hara senior slid a no-look drop pass to a wide-open Falcone in the slot, who roofed a backhander under the crossbar, behind Canon-McMillan goaltender Brandon Smolarek.

"He's a big scorer and he obviously comes through at big times," Swahl said of Falcone. "He's a sniper and just a natural goal scorer."

The goal was Falcone's fourth of the playoffs as he finished the postseason with 13 points in four games. The goal unleashed a wild celebration as Cardinal O'Hara players tossed sticks, gloves, and any other piece of equipment they could find into the air as they rushed onto the ice to celebrate near the blue line.

Cardinal O'Hara, which was the only team from the Eastern half of the state to bring home a state championship, paraded around the Mellon Arena with the Pennsylvania Cup before taking the trophy to the glass to celebrate with fans.

"Our fans mean everything to us," DeRosa said. "The whole school was behind us the whole entire year and they're a big part of this championship."

It was the school's first appearance in the state championship game since 2006 when Cardinal O'Hara lost to Mount Lebanon.

The Lions made sure they weren't leaving without a state championship this time.

Cardinal O'Hara got the better of the play during a scoreless first period, outshooting Canon-McMillan, 9-6, as the teams spent the better of the action feeling each other out.

Cardinal O'Hara appeared to score with 7:52 left in the first, but the referee lost sight of the puck and blew the play dead as the puck crossed the goal line and the game remained deadlocked.

Canon-McMillan broke the drought with a power play goal at 9:48 of the second. Ryan Thomas swept the rebound from a Brett Oldaker blast through Jeff Holland's five hole to give the Big Macs' a 1-0 lead.

The Big Macs extended the advantage to 2-0 just 33 seconds later on a fluke bounce. Holland settled the puck behind the net after a dump in, but Canon-McMillan forward Mario Dalesandro beat everybody to the puck and banked a shot off Holland's leg and into the net.

"With the offense we have, I wasn't worried because it wasn't like we were being outplayed," Swahl said. "There was no reason to get away from the game plan."

Cardinal O'Hara rebounded by scoring an odd goal of its own 1:28 later. Smolarek made the initial pad save on Bryan Reed, but sophomore David Smith, in the high slot, sent what looked like a harmless backhand through traffic and off a defender's skate before finding its way into the net.

"He just threw it at the net and really, it doesn't go in if the goalie sees it," Swahl said. "He just didn't see it and it found a way in the back of the net."

Cardinal O'Hara tied the game, scoring a power play goal with 2:21 left before the intermission. Falcone took the rebound from a Josh Lowe blast and roofed it past a sprawled Smolarek.

Canon-McMillan took a 3-2 lead early in the third when Joe Mottiqua, at the top of the crease, one-timed a pass from Dalesandro behind Holland.

But Michael Marconi sent the game into overtime with 4:07 remaining as he tied the game at 3 with his sixth goal of the playoffs.

Following a turnover at the blue line, Smolarek stopped the initial shot from Falcone, but Marconi flipped the rebound over the outstretched Canon-McMillan goaltender.

The teams had plenty of opportunities to win it in the first overtime. Cardinal O'Hara couldn't capitalize on a slashing call, while Canon-McMillan failed to score on a Lions' hooking penalty. Canon-McMillan was whistled for too many men on the ice late in the overtime, but killed the penalty to send the game to a second extra session.

Holland, who made 27 saves, also did his part to keep the game tied, stopping Kyle Almasy from the top of the crease with a sharp stick save.

That set the stage for Falcone's heroics in the second overtime.

"We've never been state champions," Swahl said. "We talked about it and envisioned ourselves being here. This was our goal, the whole year, to win the state championship."