The Mach 1 Moustache secured their place in the PIHA Finals with a hard-fought 2-1 series victory over the Champion Impact, closing out the Metropolitan Division Finals in a thrilling three-game battle.
Throughout the series, both teams showcased elite defensive play, but in the end, Mach 1's experience, depth, and early offensive bursts proved to be the deciding factors.
Game 1: Mach 1 Holds Off Impact’s Late Push to Take Series Lead
The series opener was a tight defensive battle, with both teams trading early goals before Mach 1 pulled away in the second half to earn a 3-1 victory.
Game Recap
- The Champion Impact struck first, as Mike Prainito found the net just over a minute into the game, giving Impact an early 1-0 lead.
- Mach 1 responded just over a minute later, when Tom Palermo converted on the power play after a Greg Cartwright setup.
- The game remained deadlocked until the second period, when Bryan Lees broke the tie at 7:11, putting Mach 1 ahead 2-1.
- Tyler Rifice sealed the win for Mach 1 with 32 seconds remaining, sneaking a shot past Greg Braska to extend the lead to 3-1.
Goaltending Battle
- Tom Sharkey was outstanding in net for Mach 1, stopping 18 of 19 shots.
- Mike Razzano kept Impact in the game, making 15 saves on 18 shots, but his team struggled to find the equalizer late.
With the Game 1 victory, Mach 1 put themselves in the driver’s seat, needing just one more win to advance.
Game 2: Impact Clutch Up Late to Force Game 3
Facing elimination, the Champion Impact responded in Game 2 with a comeback victory, using a strong second-period push to defeat Mach 1, 3-2.
Game Recap
- Mach 1 continued their hot starts, jumping ahead 2-0 in the first period off goals from Tyler Rifice and Ryan Curran.
- Impact finally broke through at 9:25, when Craig Zecca found an opening and cut the deficit to 2-1.
- The turning point came in the second period, as Impact stayed aggressive and found the equalizer at 8:55, thanks to another goal from Zecca.
- With just over five minutes to go, Joe Gallichio capitalized on a defensive miscue and put Impact ahead 3-2, completing the comeback.
- Mach 1 had a few last-minute chances, but Braska stood tall in net and shut the door on their offense.
Goaltending Battle
- Greg Braska was the star for Impact, making 17 saves on 19 shots, including several clutch stops in the final minutes.
- Brandon Morgenstern made 18 saves for Mach 1, but his team’s second-period breakdown proved costly.
With the 3-2 win, the Champion Impact forced a winner-take-all Game 3, setting up an intense showdown for the title.
Game 3: Mach 1 Strikes Early, Locks Down Championship Victory
In the decisive Game 3, Mach 1 came out firing, scoring four first-period goals to stun Impact early before holding on for a 4-2 victory to clinch the Metropolitan Division Championship.
Game Recap
- Mach 1 dominated the opening period, scoring four unanswered goals in the first 11 minutes.
- Greg Cartwright opened the scoring at 11:01.
- Just 90 seconds later, Cartwright struck again, making it 2-0.
- Tyler Rifice extended the lead to 3-0 at 1:36, finishing a slick passing play.
- Tom Palermo capped off the explosive first period at 0:28, putting Mach 1 up 4-0.
- Impact tried to rally in the second period, getting two quick goals from Mark Nisita and Craig Zecca, but Mach 1’s defense locked in.
- The final minutes were a defensive grind, with Impact unable to break through Mach 1’s disciplined structure.
Goaltending Battle
- Tom Sharkey came up huge in Game 3, making 17 saves on 19 shots to secure the win.
- Braska finished with 13 saves, but Impact’s slow start proved too much to overcome.
Series Takeaways & PIHA Finals Bound
With the 4-2 victory in Game 3, the Mach 1 Moustache officially punched their ticket to the PIHA Finals, where they will compete for a national title in Colorado Springs.
Key Moments of the Series
- Game 1: Mach 1’s late second-period goals helped them take control of the series early.
- Game 2: Champion Impact’s resilience led to a clutch comeback win to force Game 3.
- Game 3: Mach 1’s first-period explosion put Impact in an early hole they couldn’t climb out of.
- Goaltending was key—Tom Sharkey and Greg Braska each had standout performances, keeping games low-scoring and tightly contested.
For Champion Impact, the loss ends a strong playoff run, but they proved their ability to battle back under pressure.
Now, Mach 1 Moustache sets their sights on the biggest stage—the PIHA Finals, where they will fight for a championship.