After winning the District 6 Class 3A championship last week, Hollidaysburg opened PIAA playoff action with a first-round home game against WPIAL runner-up Franklin Regional Tuesday night at Tiger Stadium.

Though the Tigers closed the season at 17-3-1 with a 3-0 loss, Shale felt that his team left it all out on the field Tuesday, playing Franklin Regional on an even keel in the second half.

“I thought our team did us proud tonight. They played really well,” Shale said. “We went toe-to-toe with a really good team. I think that this is the best game that we have played all season.”

Franklin Regional (19-4) got a leg up on victory with two first-half goals, but the Panthers and Hollidaysburg played to an almost virtual stalemate over the last 40 minutes, when both teams managed two shots on goal apiece and neither enjoyed any type of field position advantage.

Devin Walters gets on the attack after a steal from Ethan Falvo.

Franklin Regional got on the board just 69 seconds into the game, when senior forward/midfielder Fabrizzio Costa converted a penalty kick after teammate Colton Walker was pulled down by Hollidaysburg.

“It was a good game, and getting the early goal was important for us,” said Costa, who leads Franklin Regional in both goals and assists this season. “We had to adapt to (Hollidaysburg’s) 4-4-2 defensive formation, which we hadn’t seen this season, but we handled it pretty well, we were persistent tonight, and we came out with the win.”

Franklin Regional coach Nick White agreed that his team getting the early lead gave the Panthers some momentum in the game.

“Give Hollidaysburg a lot of credit — they moved the ball well tonight, and we weren’t really sharp,” said White, whose team will advance to the quarterfinal round and a matchup with District 3 champion Conrad Weiser on Saturday at a site and time to be determined. “It was great to get that early goal from Fabrizzio. He’s a senior leader for us, and a player who drives our offense.”

Franklin Regional went ahead 2-0 with 12:37 left in the half when senior forward Cruise Lamanna scored off a throw-in assist from senior defenseman Dom Mascara.

Hollidaysburg sophomore keeper Liam Jancula was outstanding in the cage for Hollidaysburg, making several acrobatic saves to keep the score manageable for the Golden Tigers.

“We controlled the first half but their keeper made some tremendous saves, including some on shots that were truly missiles,” White said. “Hollidaysburg played hard tonight, and defended against us very well.”

Franklin Regional salted the game away with 6:53 left in the second half when sophomore forward Michael Hillebrand, standing in front of the Hollidaysburg cage, headed in Costa’s corner kick to give the Panthers their final 3-0 margin of victory.

Hollidaysburg graduates only two senior starters from this year’s team, so the cupboard will be full for the Golden Tigers in 2026.

“We lose only two senior starters, but we have a good nucleus back next year, including five freshmen who played this year,” Shale said. “Things are looking good for us in the future.”

SCORE BY HALVES

Franklin Regional 2 1–3

Hollidaysburg 0 0–0

First half

1, FR–Costa (penalty kick), 38:51. 2, FR–Lamanna (Mascara), 12:37.

Second half

3, FR–Hillebrand (Costa), 6:53.

Shots on goal: Franklin Regional 10, Hollidaysburg 4.

Saves: Bush, FR, 4; Jancula, HOL, 6; Chestney, HOL, 1.

Records: Franklin Regional (19-4); Hollidaysburg (17-3-1).