After winning in the school's first appearance in a Penguins Cup final last week, the Latrobe Wildcats are playing with house money as they go for the jackpot Saturday.

"That's how we sort of feel about it," Latrobe coach Ron Makoski said. "We're real thrilled to have had the opportunity to win a Penguins Cup. Now we want to put the icing on the cake and see if we can win the state championship to add to the Penguins Cup."

Latrobe (22-3) will play Conestoga (22-5-1) at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pa., at 1 p.m. Saturday for the Class AA Pennsylvania Cup championship.

Makoski and one of his assistants were in Philadelphia this past Saturday to watch Conestoga beat Pennridge in a triple-overtime Flyers Cup final, 3-2. The Pioneers were the No. 5 seed in the Flyers Cup and won three one-goal games and one two-goal game in the playoffs.

"They're a very solid team with a very good goaltender from what I can see," Makoski said. "We didn't see anything exceptional that we thought we have to prepare for. We'll just come out and prepare to play our game, play against a very solid team. They're a good team or else they wouldn't be where they are."

Latrobe was to practice only twice during the 10-day layoff between the Penguins Cup and the Pennsylvania Cup finals.

And Makoski said there is a chance that senior forwards Jeff Rossi and Alex Stahl will not be available to the Wildcats Saturday. They are playing for a Junior Penguins squad that is playing in the USA Hockey Junior Nationals in Marlboro, Mass. The championship of that tournament is also Saturday.

"[Making the national championship game] would be wonderful," Makoski said. "But we would potentially lose a couple pretty important guys. We'll see what happens."

With or without their fourth- and seventh-leading scorers during the regular season, the Wildcats still have plenty of firepower in players such as juniors Mike McCurdy, JeffJoe Regula, Ryan LaDuke and Andrew Ong.

No matter the offensive production, however, the Wildcats wouldn't be where they are without good goaltending. Junior Nick Loyacona has provided just that. In his second season as a starter -- he has been with the Latrobe program at various levels since junior high school -- Loyacona was 14-3 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in the regular season.

Last season, he was 15-4 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .903 save percentage and one shutout as a sophomore as Latrobe had the second-best record in PIHL Class AA.

"He's very quick, very athletic and he brings a real mental focus to the game," Makoski said. "He's been real good for us all year, but I think in the last couple weeks before the playoffs, he's really started to get focused. And he's let up very few goals in the Penguins Cup playoffs. Hopefully, he can give us one more good performance."

In the playoffs, Loyacona has been fantastic, allowing only five goals in three games. He has a 1.62 postseason goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Most impressively, he has not been scored upon in consecutive pressure-packed overtimes during games in the Penguins Cup semifinals and finals.

"I don't know how those goalies do it," Makoski said. "Overtime is so intense; I can't imagine what it's like as a goalie."

Latrobe was to have practices -- last Tuesday and today -- before the title game.

"I think we'll try to work on basics and mental focus," Makoski said. "I'm big on that. I think teams have to be mentally focused in big games like this.

"We've had some tough games, and it's easy to let your guard down and relax. As coach, I can't let that happen. We need to keep the kids focused and get them up mentally. If we're mentally prepared, we'll be in good shape."The championship

• What: Latrobe vs. Conestoga in Pennsylvania Cup Class AA final.

• When: 1 p.m. Saturday.

• Where: Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown, Pa.

• Radio/Internet: Game can be heard at www.msasportsnetwork.com and on WBGG 970 AM.

• The skinny: Conestoga won the Flyers Cup title with a 3-2 win against Pennridge in three overtimes.