REISTERSTOWN, Md. – Stevenson senior forward Jessie Capanelli (Lancaster, Pa.) potted the game-winning goal at the 12:25 mark of the second overtime period to capture the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) Tournament title with a 2-1 win over Endicott on Sunday evening at the Reisterstown Sportsplex.
With a 5-on-3 advantage in the second overtime session, Capanelli scored the game-winner by redirecting a centering feed in the slot from classmate Megan Alexander (Redondo Beach, Calif.), who slid a pass from behind the net directly in front of the crease.
Endicott opened the scoring in the second period (4:31) when freshman forward Lexi Klein (Shoreview, Minn.) buried her ninth goal of the season with a great individual effort from the left wing. After receiving a pass from Maggie Layo (Sandwich, Mass.) near the blue line, Klein centered herself towards goal, deked her only defender and roofed a wrist shot top-shelf, blocker side to give the Gulls an early advantage.
Stevenson sophomore forward Chelsea Blackburn (Westland, Mich.) evened the score just 1:18 into the third as she banked a shot off a skate in front of the crease past Vendela Jonsson's (Linkoping, Sweden) into the back of the net for her 19th tally of the season.
Both Jonsson and Mustangs' senior goaltender Sarah Modzelewski (Brighton, Mich.) went on to shine in each overtime session as the duo combined for 39 saves (26 – Jonsson | 13 – Modzelewski). Jonsson and Modzelewski also stopped one overtime breakaway scoring chance apiece, which came in the first and second sessions for each goalie, respectively. Jonsson and Modzelewski both finished with 44 saves in the contest.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mustangs captured the first-ever CHC Tournament title tonight.
- Stevenson owns a 2-0-1 record in the all-time series versus Endicott.
- The Gulls advanced to the CHC Tournament championship game in its first year as an NCAA varsity program.
- Klein and Caroline Hughes (Andover, Mass.) were both named to the CHC All-Tournament Team for the Gulls.
- Jonsson stopped 40-plus shots in a game for the second time this season.
- Jonsson's career-high for saves in a game is 48, which came against Middlebury on January 16, 2016.
FOR THE FOES
- Modzelewski was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the tournament.
- Blackburn, Capanelli, and Tori Emoff (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) all earned CHC All-Tournament Team accolades.
- Stevenson extended its winning streak to 12 straight games with tonight's victory.
- The Mustangs are now 13-0-0 at home this year and have never lost an overtime game (4-0-4) in program history.
WHAT'S NEXT
Stevenson finishes its season at 23-3-1, while Endicott closes out its first year as an NCAA Division III varsity program at 14-7-4. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.