“Sweet” Home revenge

I would rather be lucky than good.

This weekend the Sweet Home Panthers were both.

Tyler Edholm (four points) scored his second consecutive hat trick, all power play goals, as Section VI’s Panthers upset Section VI’s West Seneca West, 7-5, to capture the NYSPHSAA Division II title at the HarborCenter, Sunday afternoon.

The win not only marks the program’s first-ever state title it’s also sweet revenge for the Panthers who fell to the Indians in the Section VI championship game on Feb. 26.

With the Section VI small school runner-up deemed to be the team to get the at-large wild card bid, Sweet Home regrouped after Super Monday loss to beat Northeastern Clinton in the regionals.

Early in the state title game, it looked as if the favored Indians would roll to its first state title when Ethan Parsons netted two quick goals.

But Edholm kept his team in the game with back-to-back power play goals, the second coming with just 44 seconds left in the first period.

Sweet Home scored four straight goals in the second period including two more power play goals. Blake Russo got the eventual game-winner at the 4:20 Mark.

The win comes on the heels of the Panthers shocking, 6-4, upset of Section III Auburn in Saturday’s semifinal game.

This was the first time in the history of the tournament that two Section VI teams played in the state title game.