York, PA - Central York got exactly what it wanted in Friday night's CPIHL Tier 1 playoff match against Dallastown at the York City Ice Arena: A chance to avenge Monday night's opening-round loss to the Wildcats.

The regular-season champion Panthers won 16 of 18 games and pounded the Wildcats without allowing a goal in two previous meetings before stumbling in their postseason clash.

"We played sloppy and selfish," Central York's Jared Williamson said of Monday night's performance that halted the Panthers' seven-game winning streak and snapped an 0-11-1 stretch for the Wildcats.

Central coach Rick Lefever vowed Friday night's loser-bracket rematch would have a different outcome.

"We felt like we were the better team, and our guys could not wait to get out here and prove it," Lefever said after the Panthers rolled to a 6-3 win that eliminated the Wildcats and moved Central into the semifinals Monday night against Palmyra.

"We need to come ready to play with a winning attitude," Lefever said. "We need to show that we deserved our first-place finish."

Stehl Taylor happened to be in perfect position when a puck ricocheted off the stick of Panthers teammate Kenny Gross. Taylor tapped it past Wildcats goalie keeper Levi Bean for the game's first goal.

Gross would also add two goals of his own in the period, and Joseph Didusch added one for Dallastown as Central built a 3-1 lead after 15 minutes of play.

In the second period, the Wildcats' Brooks Nugent took a centering pass from Grant Duvall and swept a turnaround shot past Panthers goalie Tallen Stroman at 4:33, pulling the Wildcats within one at 3-2.

James Mueller restored Central's two-goal lead with a score of his own at 9:42. But Dallastown soon found itself with its second two-man advantage of the night.

Wildcats captain Ian France scored a long shot from his defenseman position, pulling Dallastown back within one again at 4-3 at 11:34.

Not to be outdone, Panthers defenseman Jared Williamson intercepted a Wildcat pass and took the puck the length of the ice to score nine seconds later, effectively sealing the victory for Central.

"It felt pretty good to get revenge," Williamson said, referring to Monday's 2-1 loss. "Now we need to take this momentum into the semis."

With the loss, Dallastown's season came to an end, but coach Matt Mitchell is hopeful for next season.

"These guys showed a lot of heart when it came down to crunch time," Mitchell said. "We are a young team, and next year we will be a force to be reckoned with."
  
Dallastown  1   2   0 -- 3
Central York  3   3   0 -- 6

   First Period -- 1, Central York, Stehl Taylor (Kenny Gross), 4:41. 2, Central York, Gross (Nathaniel Troupe, 7:25. 3, Dallastown, Joseph Didusch (Grant Duvall), 12:08 (pp). 4, Central York, Gross (Colton Traynham), 14:49. Penalties -- Spencer Feltman, Dt, (hooking), 9:00; Brenden McWilliams, CY (roughing), 10:21; James Mueller, CY (tripping), 12:03.
   Second Period -- 5, Dallastown, Brooks Nugent (Duvall), 4:33. 6, Central York, James Mueller, 9:42. 7, Dallastown, Ian France (Didusch), 11:34 (pp). 8, Central York, Jared Williamson, 11:43 (sh). 9, Central York, Traynham (Troupe), 13:57. Penalties -- David Dygert, Dt (head contact), 2:03; Nicholas Werner, Dt (roughing), 6:22; Greg Bury, Dt (interference), 6:34; McWilliams, CY (hooking), 10:33; Traynham, CY (tripping), 11:03; McWilliams, CY (interference), 14:33.
   Third Period -- None. Penalties -- Traynham, CY (tripping), 5:57; Andrew Potter, CY (tripping), 7:25; Potter, CY (holding), 13:58.
   Shots on goal -- Dallastown 14, Central York 21.
   Goalies -- Dallastown, Levi Bean (15 saves); Central York, Tallen Stroman (11 saves).