By JOE SAGER, PIHL Network

CORAOPOLIS – Preston Charlton was relieved to see the game-winning goal – especially at the opposite end.

The Quigley Catholic netminder could finally relax as Nick Santiago blasted a rebound into the net 34 seconds into the second overtime Thursday night. It gave the Spartans a 5-4 win over Indiana for the PIHL Open Cup at the RMU Island Sports Center’s Clearview Arena.

“When I saw him get that puck, I knew he’d bury it,” Charlton said. “I was so relieved because they threw everything they had at me. They are a really good hockey team and we’re really fortunate to beat them. We’re just so happy.

“It’s unbelievable. I have never felt like this before; this is the greatest moment of hockey I’ve been a part of, bar none.”

Santiago had a feeling the puck might find his stick. He was right. Crashing the far post, a hard shot right to him. Without hesitation, he blasted the puck high into the net to kick off an instant celebration for the Spartans.

“I was hoping it was coming to me and, all of a sudden, there it was. Then, one-timer into the back of the net and then gloves off, everybody celebrating and screaming. I just knew it was over; that’s the feeling I will never forget,” he said. “This is great. This is what we’ve wanted all year long. We have it; the trophy is in (our room). We’re all pumped. We went out with a blast. I had so much fun playing with the seniors I played with. I am going to miss them a lot.”

Charlton faced a barrage of vulcanized rubber. He saw 53 shots and made 49 saves to earn the win.

“When you’re in there, you’re not really thinking about it. You’re just thinking about making the next save. I think that’s just what it came down to,” he said. “They kept firing a lot at me and I just did my best to turn them away. I got beat a couple times by some good shots from some good players. I just kept my head in it. Luckily, we were able to pull it out.”

Santiago and Charlton weren’t the only two stars for Quigley (20-3-1). Senior Troy Emig scored four goals and assisted on Santiago’s game winner.

“Troy played phenomenal. He wanted it; he’s a senior and this was his last game. He wanted to win this game,” Santiago said. “He picked it up for everybody on the team.”

The Little Indians (18-6-0) scored the game’s first goal just 1:58 into the contest. P.J. Kuta wristed the first of his two tallies for a 1-0 lead.

Quigley retaliated 1:02 later when Emig lifted a backhander into the net to knot the game at 1-all.

T.J. Petro’s wrister and Kuta’s second goal gave Indiana a 3-1 edge with 3:58 remaining in the first.

However, the Spartans trimmed the deficit to 3-2 when Emig’s floater slipped past goalie Austin Moody with 1:24 on the clock.

Emig rang three pucks off the goalposts early in the second before finally cashing in with 6:33 left. He snuck through the Little Indians defense for a breakaway and flipped a backhander into the goal for the 3-3 tie.

Charlton was strong in the second period as he turned aside all 18 shots he faced in the frame.

“Preston has been our saving grace all season,” Emig said. “He’s our only goaltender. He’s fought through sickness and injuries. He’s our MVP without a doubt this entire season.”

Emig put the Spartans up, 4-3, with 4:26 left in regulation. Santiago’s point-blank shot rebounded to the near post, where Emig swept it in for the go-ahead tally.

Yet, Indiana responded 1:11 later with a power-play tally. Pat Hunter’s slapper sailed into the net past Charlton to knot the game at 4-all.

Doug Simon nearly won the game for Quigley in the first overtime as he broke through the Little Indians defense and wristed a shot toward the goal. However, Moody made a quick glove save to snatch the puck out of the air and preserve the tie.

“By all means, the game should have been over at that point. We just had a little breakdown on our part,” Indiana coach Dom Glavach said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the guys and their effort and heart. That’s a good team, top to bottom, that we lost to as well.”

It didn’t take long for Santiago to tally the winner in the second OT.

“In overtime, if you watch on TV or anything, it’s all about getting pucks on net. The ice is bad and anything can happen. We threw it on net and Santiago was right there and he did what he did all season – stuck it home,” Emig said. “I don’t have words to describe this. It’s fantastic. I am just glad I am a part of it. It means so much to the team and so much to the coaches. That’s all there is to it; it’s amazing.”

Advancing to the title game was a feat for Indiana’s program, which returned to varsity hockey this season after a three-year absence.

“The season has been spectacular. Being at the junior varsity level, we just approached it one game at a time, work on fundamentals, start doing the little things,” Glavach said. “We had a stretch in January with some pretty key wins. Then, we lost a couple. That really changed the way we approached games and practice. We just carried that momentum. We were fortunate enough to get on rails at the right time with the right kind of leadership and goaltending and all the little things it takes. We were a goal away from a championship. I am very proud of the guys and how our program is rebounding.”