Rustin, C.B. South skate to titles

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - West Chester Rustin exited Penn State's $88 million Pegula Ice Arena on Saturday with its first state hockey title since 2009. Central Bucks South left as a champion, too.

But La Salle came up short in its bid to win two state titles in two sports in one day.

J.R. Barone scored two goals as part of a four-goal flurry in the first period that sent Rustin to a 5-2 victory over Quaker Valley in the state Class A final.

Leo Flick's two third-period goals helped secure C.B. South's 5-2 triumph over Bishop Canevin in the Class AA title game.

In the finale of the triple-header, La Salle outshot Peters Township by 32-25 but lost, 2-1, in the Class AAA matchup.

Rustin set the tone immediately by scoring two goals in the first two minutes, led by a strong Brett Christie finish on a 2-on-1 break just 42 seconds into the game.

After Michael Grande made it a 2-0 score at the 1-minute, 41-second mark, Quaker Valley answered with a James Perkins goal from point-blank range at 3:44.

Barone then scored his goals to put Rustin up, 4-1. Barone connected on a power play at 8:34 and at even strength at 16:51.

Once the second period started, the scoring pace slowed significantly.

Quaker Valley scored the lone goal of the middle period to move within 4-2. But the Golden Knights closed the scoring on a Shawn Polidore goal with 3:02 remaining in the game.

West Chester Rustin 4 0 1 - 5

Quaker Valley 1 1 0 - 2

First period: 1, West Chester Rustin, Brett Christie (J.R. Barone), 0:42. 2, West Chester Rustin, Michael Grande (unassisted), 1:41. 3, Quaker Valley, James Perkins (Scott Weston), 3:44. 4, West Chester Rustin, J.R. Barone (Brett Christie, Armen Asdourian), 8:34. 5, West Chester Rustin, J.R. Barone (Harrison Layne, Brett Christie), 16:51.

Second period: 6, Quaker Valley, Cameron Peterkin (Connor Quinn), 12:02.

Third period: 7, West Chester Rustin, Shawn Polidore (J.R. Barone), 13:58.

Saves: West Chester Rustin, Jason Grande, 20. Quaker Valley, Parker Sherry, 15.

C.B. South's matchup with 2011 state champ Bishop Canevin was tightly contested through two periods.

The Titans scored first while shorthanded with less than two minutes remaining in the first period when Brendan Clements netted a wrist shot from the slot.

The Crusaders then connected on a power play midway through the second to knot the game.

But South regained the lead just 13 seconds later. Michael Pilla found a seam in front of the net and pushed the puck past Crusaders goalie Nikita Meskin.

The two teams exchanged goals early in the third period, but a rebound goal by Flick, his second score of the game, extended the lead to 4-2.

Titans goalie Aaron King made several key saves to maintain the lead.

Central Bucks South 1 1 3 - 5

Bishop Canevin 0 1 1 - 2

First period: 1, Central Bucks South, Brendan Clements (Thomas Liberta), 15:10.

Second period: 2, Bishop Canevin, Randy Unger (Alex Bosnic, Garrett Godlewski), 5:52. 3, Central Bucks South, Michael Pilla (Damon Delaurentis, Leo Flick), 6:05.

Third period: 4, Central Bucks South, Leo Flick (Thomas Liberta), 0:55. 5, Bishop Canevin, Liam Walsh (Jason Bilski), 1:42. 6, Central Bucks South, Leo Flick (Damon Delaurentis, Brandon Spognardi), 8:29. 7, Central Bucks South, Michael Lucas (Jake Kelinson), 10:19.

Saves: Central Bucks South, Aaron King, 21. Bishop Canevin, Nikita Meskin, 25.

La Salle missed an opportunity to capture a fourth state title in seven years.

Peters Township struck first after Adam Alavi found a soft spot in the Explorers' defense less than eight minutes into the game.

La Salle tied the score just three minutes later. Kevin Charyszyn weaved between two Peters defenders before lifting the puck over the left shoulder of goalie Brian Baker.

Josef Kittelberger gave Peters the lead once more, 2-1, five minutes into the second period.

With less than eight minutes remaining in the game, Peters had a chance to extend the lead with a penalty shot, but Alavi was denied by Explorers goalie Harrison Feeney.

La Salle then had two power-play chances in the final five minutes but couldn't capitalize.

La Salle 1 0 0 - 1

Peters Township 1 1 0 - 2

First period: 1, Peters Township, Adam Alavi (Samuel Barnes, Jonathan Dagnal), 7:18. 2, La Salle, Kevin Charyszyn (Andrew Romano, Harrison Baker), 10:18.

Second period: 3, Peters Township, Josef Kittelberger (Jonathan Dagnal, Zachery Gielarowski), 5:02.

Saves: La Salle, Harrison Feeney, 23. Peters Township, Brian Baker, 31.