PIHA Semi-Pro Quarterfinals Recap: Snipers Survive, Yotes Explode to Advance

The PIHA Semi-Pro playoffs opened with two electric quarterfinal matchups Friday night, as four teams battled to keep their championship hopes alive. In a clash of underdog grit and offensive firepower, the Long Island Empire Snipers outlasted the Mile High Blizzard, while the Arizona Yotes overwhelmed the Empire State Labeda Legends in a high-scoring affair.

Here’s a full breakdown of both games as the bracket narrows to the final four.

Quarterfinal 1: (3) Long Island Empire Snipers 4, (6) Mile High Blizzard 3

In a rematch of their early round-robin meeting, the Long Island Empire Snipers once again edged out the Mile High Blizzard—but this time it took everything they had to do it.

The Snipers struck first, with Will Lalor opening the scoring just 1:23 into the game. But Colton Davis answered for the Blizzard with a goal at 10:24 of the first, setting the tone for a tense, tightly contested matchup.

The second half was a roller coaster. Long Island regained the lead through Vinny Pontrello, who had a monstrous second period, scoring twice and adding an assist. His first goal at 11:24 was a slick one-timer set up by Stephen Falkowski, and just two minutes later, he connected again on a give-and-go with Lalor. Pontrello completed his hat trick with just 25 seconds left, pushing the Snipers up 4–2.

Mile High didn’t go quietly. Mickey Phillips and Shaun Linger scored late to close the gap to one, with Linger’s tally coming just five seconds from the buzzer, but it was too little, too late. Goalie Brett Eoviero stood tall for Long Island with 20 saves on 23 shots, while Ryan Wass-Tursick made 15 stops in the loss.

The Snipers advance to the semifinals, where they’ll face the Raleigh Title Wave Mops in a highly anticipated rematch from earlier in the tournament.

Quarterfinal 2: (4) Arizona Yotes 8, (5) Empire State Labeda Legends 4

If the first quarterfinal was a grind, the second was an all-out shootout. The Arizona Yotes, known for their speed and explosive offense, delivered a highlight-reel performance to punch their ticket to the semifinals.

Zach Hoffman wasted no time getting Arizona on the board, scoring twice in the first—at 9:52 and 3:19—to give the Yotes early control. Just seconds after his second goal, Aydin Schwetz added another with a rocket from the wing, pushing the lead to 3–0. Although Empire State answered with back-to-back goals from Jack Ryan and Tyler Steimel just 21 seconds apart, Arizona held a 3–2 lead going into halftime.

The second half belonged to the Yotes.

Brydon Frisk scored twice, including a top-shelf bullet at 8:47 and a beautiful setup from Jeremy VanBuskirk and Ruben Gonzalez at 5:54. Arizona’s power play was electric, striking twice in under a minute—Hoffman completed his hat trick, and Gonzalez added another on a laser from the point.

Even as Nick Collins and Vinny Polsinelli fought to keep Empire close with second-half tallies, the Yotes kept their foot on the gas. VanBuskirk finished the scoring with a dagger at 1:31 to seal the 8–4 win.

Goalie Eric Hernandez backstopped Arizona with 20 saves on 24 shots, while Legends netminder Jonathan Berghorn turned away 21 of 29 in the loss.

With the win, Arizona advances to face the top-seeded Propel MG in the semifinals—a matchup between two of the tournament’s most dynamic offenses.

Semifinal Matchups Set:

• (1) Propel MG vs (4) Arizona Yotes

• (2) Raleigh Title Wave Mops vs (3) Long Island Empire Snipers

Both games are set for Saturday evening, with a trip to Sunday’s Semi-Pro Championship Final on the line.