Gladiators Stun Barons Late, Advance to Keystone Division Final

In the series opener, both teams came out with intensity, but it was the Gladiators who made the bigger plays in the second half of the game. Matt Engle opened the scoring with an unassisted goal in the first period, giving Marple a 1-0 lead. The Barons responded quickly, with Sean Lloyd tying the game just minutes later.

The second period was all Gladiators. Jaylend Powell, Robby Schaeffer, and Cameron Rowand each found the back of the net, with Rowand adding an empty-netter to seal the 4-2 win. Goalie Mitchell Reinhold stood tall, turning away 13 of 15 shots to secure the victory.

Game 2: Barons Roar Back

The Barons entered Game 2 needing a win to keep their season alive, and they delivered in convincing fashion. A flurry of first-period penalties by the Gladiators led to three Barons power-play goals, as Sean Lloyd, Benny Brouillard, and Keith Goodman all capitalized on the man advantage.

Despite goals from Kyle Young and Jaylend Powell to keep Marple in striking distance, the Barons dominated the pace of play, with former Semi-Pro MVP Patrick Coll stopping 17 shots en route to a 6-2 victory.

Heading into the decisive Game 3, momentum seemed to be in Philadelphia’s favor.

Game 3: Gladiators Win in the Final Seconds

With everything on the line, both teams elevated their play in Game 3. The Gladiators returned to Mitchell Reinhold in net, while the Barons stuck with Jared Occhicone, who had been solid in Game 1.

First Period: Early Tension

The opening frame was a defensive battle, as both teams struggled to generate high-quality scoring chances. The period ended scoreless, with the Gladiators narrowly outshooting the Barons 8-6.

Second Period: Trading Blows

The action exploded in the second period.

• The Barons struck first at 9:12, with Sean Lloyd finding the back of the net off a feed from Ray Weise to put Philadelphia up 1-0.
• The Gladiators answered back less than three minutes later, as Matt Engle beat Occhicone with a rocket from the slot to tie the game 1-1.
• The Barons regained the lead at 4:18, thanks to a power-play goal from Justin Brown, but the Gladiators refused to go away. With just over a minute left in the period, Jaylend Powell cleaned up a rebound in front of the net to tie the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.

Third Period: Haydon White’s Heroics

The third period appeared destined for overtime as both teams tightened up defensively. Neither side wanted to make a costly mistake, and the clock ticked under a minute with the score still tied at 2-2.

With just 10 seconds remaining, Jaylend Powell intercepted a Barons clearing attempt and fed the puck to Matt Engle, who quickly dished it to Haydon White. White skated into the slot and rifled a shot past Occhicone, beating him to the far post with only three seconds left on the clock.

The Gladiators erupted in celebration as the Barons looked on in disbelief. Reinhold made 20 saves on the night to secure the victory, and White’s last-second goal propelled Marple to the Division Final.

Key Performances

• Haydon White (Gladiators): Game-winning goal with three seconds left in Game 3.
• Jaylend Powell (Gladiators): 3 goals and 2 assists in the series, including a key assist on White’s game-winner.
• Sean Lloyd (Barons): 2 goals and 2 assists in the series, leading the way for Philadelphia.
• Mitchell Reinhold (Gladiators): 20 saves in the Game 3 victory.

What’s Next?

The Gladiators now turn their attention to Propel MG, who swept the Fusion Blizzard in their semi-final series. Propel brings a high-powered offense led by Zach Tarantino and Bryce Witman, and they’ll be a tough challenge for Marple in Sunday’s Keystone Division Final.

Puck drop is set for 10:45 AM, and with a spot in the PIHA Finals on the line, fans can expect another intense battle.