Mustangs' Rollercoaster Season Ends in Playoff Defeat

The Mustangs' season ended Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss to North Allegheny in the first round of the playoffs.

The team fought through two losing streaks this season to earn a chance to battle for the Penguin Cup, but the grueling schedule of the last week got to players.

"They're tired," Coach Stu Rulnick said following the team's final game. "That happens when you get kids playing that many games in a row."

Plum took on five games in about a week due to a make-up game last week and a play-in game Sunday.

The team's lethargy showed early in Tuesday's match-up against North Allegheny in which the Mustangs were simply outplayed.

North Allegheny broke into the game with a goal at 11:35 in the first period and scored a second with one minute remaining.

The Tigers stacked another goal on at 12:16 in the second, making the score 3-0, at which it would remain for most of the game.

Plum skaters struggled to connect passes and fanned on shots when they set up shop in the Tigers' end. The Mustangs had a few chances on the power play, too, but were unable to capitalize.

Their hearts were in it, but their bodies weren't, Rulnick said.

"It's like your mind is telling you one thing, but your legs don't go," he said.

The Mustangs didn't give up, though, and played until the end, determined to deny North Allegheny a shut out.

The team succeeded with just 43 seconds remaining in the game when senior Jason Pastucha shot one into the net. Pastucha also set up the game-winning overtime goal in Sunday's play-in game against Mt. Lebanon.

Plum fired off just 14 shots in the game.

While Mustang skaters struggled, goaltender Taylor Cestra stood up to a pummeling of 28 shots in 45 minutes, some leaving a lasting impression.

"One caught me in my stomach — it hurt," Cestra said.

The sophomore goaltender and only female in the league developed over the season from a struggling newcomer who doubted herself to a confident net-minder.

She faced a total of 573 shots throughout the season and ended with a .853 save percentage.

"I wasn't giving up," Cestra said, and cited her team's support for the opportunity to improve.

Rulnick thinks she has the potential to be the best goaltender in the league.

"The future for her is nothing but bright," he said.

Seniors Cody Cenci, Nick Cicolini, Justin Pastucha, Jason Pastucha, Tyler Galanis, Cory Sakolsky and Steve Susalla took a few extra minutes in the locker room following the game to take in their last game together.

It was an emotional ending, said team captain Cenci.

"We're all separating, going to different colleges," he said.

According to Cenci, the season was most defined by its ups and downs.

"It was like four different seasons," Rulnick said.

The team started out on a losing streak before dominating through December and January, only to struggle again late this winter. They finished with a record of 7-11-2.

Cicolini led the team in points with 34, and 19 goals, followed by Hunter Brett with 31 points and 19 goals.

Sakolsky was the highest-scoring defenseman with 11 points, including 10 assists and one goal.

The Mustangs were inconsistent, but they had their strengths, too, Cenci said.

"Our biggest strength was never quitting," he said.

Editor's Note:

Great job, Mustangs! Thanks for making me a part of your season. Good luck to the seniors. You're all headed toward a great future.