It’s no small feat to top the defending state champions three times in a season. 

But Council Rock South accomplished that on Wednesday, topping defending Flyers Cup and state champion Pennridge, 4-1, in the semifinals of the SHSHL National Division at Grundy. 

In the first period, the Golden Hawks took advantage of a Shane Dachowski roughing minor by netting a power play goal by Jagger Smith for the first score of the game. 

They added to that when Jake Weiner scored back-to-back goals in the second period.

That 3-0 lead lasted until just seven minutes remained in the game, when Joshua Kelly’s shot took an odd ricochet over CR South goaltender Trey Prozzillo’s right shoulder. 

It wasn’t enough of a spark for the Rams, though, and Jeremy Rayher shut the door with his goal for CR South with 3:36 to go in the game. 

“The first five minutes, teams have to feel each other out,” said Pennridge junior James Rush, a forward. “After those five minutes, I felt our team was pretty engaged. I thought our lines were moving pretty good. We were going hard, but we weren’t getting the bounces. 

“I think the mindset is pretty much the same for us every game. We know our system. We just want to stick to that. 

“I really didn’t think we were going to lose until about the last two minutes. Crazier things have happened and you never want to think you’re out of it so you don’t give up until the last whistle.”

Prozzillo was superb for the Golden Hawks, making 25 saves.

“I really wanted the shutout,” said Prozzillo, a junior. “That one goal that I let in was weak. 

“But our whole team stayed together. We wanted to win this game so bad for all the times that we lost to them in the past. We really worked as a team and supported each other.”

His teammates appreciated his performance. 

“For him to stand on his head like that, he was great,” said Dan Filippov, a senior defenseman for the Golden Hawks. “He was backing up Carson Lopez last year so he had big shoes to fill and when he plays like that against a team like that, you can’t thank him enough.” 

It was the third meeting of the year between the two, with CR South winning the first meeting, 6-5, and the rematch, 5-2. 

“We came out a little slow but we definitely picked it up in the second period. We had a talk and we knew we had to work together. The teams that win these games are the teams that work together. Individuality will not win these games. We built that momentum up and then we started banging in those goals. 

“Against a team like this, that we’ve lost to in the Flyers Cup twice, there’s history there and we wanted to win,” Filippov said. “We gave it everything we had. We wanted to show a different team than they’ve seen in the past. 

“Even the kids who don’t see a lot of playing time were banging on the boards and getting into it and that’s good to see.”  

The Rams are a relatively young squad. 

“We had like 14-15 guys graduate from last year and we had a bunch of JV players come up and filling big roles,” said Pennridge senior Jared Garber, a defenseman. “That was an adjustment a little at the beginning but they’ve been playing really well. 

“We had some good chances but we couldn’t find the net and their goalie played phenomenal. But I thought we outplayed them, honestly but we couldn’t put the puck in the net.”

The Golden Hawks (17-5) seek their third consecutive SHSHL title. 

“I’m excited,” Prozzillo said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”

CR South will take on Central Bucks South, a 4-3 winner over North Penn, for the division championship on Thursday. Win or lose, the Golden Hawks will participate in the Flyers Cup, which begins on Monday. 

Pennridge (13-8) will be back on the ice for the Flyers Cup.

“That’s all we’re worried about,” Rush said. “These playoffs are great but we have our eyes set on the Flyers Cup.”

Garber agreed. 

“We lost this game a couple of years ago and we still won the Flyers Cup, so we won’t give up,” he said.  

Pennridge 0 0 1 

Council Rock South 1 2 1

First-period goal; Jagger Smith (CRS) from Jonah Weston, 11:07 (pp);

Second-period goals: Jake Weiner (CRS) from Jake Maurer and Jagger Smith, 1:22; Jake Weiner (CRS) unassisted, 13:34;

Third-period goals: Joshua Kelly (P) unassisted, 9:58; Jeremy Rayher (CRS) unassisted, 13:24 

Shots: Pennridge 25, CR South 33; Saves: Jacob Winton (P) 33, Trey Prozzillo (CRS) 25