Sports

Colts Win Double Overtime Thriller

Chartiers Valley defeated Montour 5-4 in a remarkable comeback victory.

Chartiers Valley stormed back from a two-goal deficit with just over a minute left in regulation before junior Justin Sabilla buried the game-winning goal in a double overtime thriller Wednesday night.

The Colts defeated Montour 5-4 in the quarterfinals of the PIHL hockey playoffs and will now face Peters Township at 7 p.m. Monday inside the Consol Energy Center.

Although Chartiers Valley (16-5) outshot Montour and controlled the offensive zone most of the game, the Spartans never trailed until Sabilla’s goal in second overtime. The goal gave Sabilla a hat trick for the game in a remarkable comeback that had the Colts down two goals with 1:17 left in the third period.

Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jonathan Levy scored the game-tying goal with just 16 second left to play moments after coach Louis Biancaniello drew up a play from the left faceoff circle. Levy, a defenseman who scored one goal all year, was mobbed by his teammates after tying the game.

“It didn’t happen quite the way I drew it up,” Biancaniello said. “I just told them to have faith. We didn’t come this far to lose now.”

Find out what's happening in Chartiers Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Montour got out to an early lead when Zach Milnaricik beat goalie Noah Stevenson . The Colts came back to tie it six minutes later as senior Bob Tracy cradled a rebound off Montour goalie Matthew Penz’s shoulder and put it past him.

But the momentum quickly turned toward Montour. The Spartans scored late in the first period and continued to charge after intermission by scoring early in the second period.

The Colts could not convert on a two-man advantage, and then were caught with too many players on the ice. Montour once again made them pay as Austin Kronz buried a slapshot from the left faceoff circle.

It looked as though Montour put the game away when Domenic Martinelli extended the lead to 4-1 just 9 seconds into the third period.  Biancaniello, though, said his team never panicked.

“It doesn’t faze these guys,” Biancaniello said. “We know we can score at any time if we keep playing our game. I give the guys a lot of credit.”

An interference penalty on Montour allowed Sabilla to score a wrap-around goal early in the third and he scored again with 1:16 left in the game to breathe life into the Colts. Levy tied the game, prompting the Chartiers Valley players to pile on the defenseman.

Both teams had great scoring chances in the first 10-minute overtime. But it was Sabilla who ended the game 1:57 into the second OT and was mobbed by his teammates at the glass.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Chartiers Valley