Stankiewicz lifts Downingtown East past Rustin in overtime thriller

WEST GOSHEN >> The game started with intense defense and stellar goaltending by senior Matt Shandler of Downingtown East. It ended with Mark Stankiewcz lifting the Cougars to a monster win over West Chester Rustin in ICSHL action at Ice Line Monday night.

Shandler stopped all 12 of the shots he faced in the opening period and ended the night with 25 saves on 27 shots as Downingtown East edged West Chester Rustin, 3-2, in overtime.

Stankiewicz ended things in overtime for Downingtown East, which sits atop the Ches-Mont League standings (9-2), while Rustin sits just behind them with a league mark of 8-0-1-1 (the final 1 signifies the overtime loss, which does not go in the standings as an official loss).

West Chester Rustin Coach Nick Russo made adjustments after first the period, which ended with both teams scoreless.

“We tried to get a little more pressure on their defense in the second period,” Russo said. He then compared the competition to two heavyweight champions fighting on the ice; since both teams have won multiple state championships in the past few years. “Our pace of play was fancier while theirs was a little more hardworking.” 

The goaltending duel ended almost seven minutes into the second period when Rustin’s Nicholas Ferraro broke the tie with a power play goal, assisted by Matt Owens and Brett Turner. Just two minutes after that sequence, the Golden Knights struck again with an unassisted goal from captain Matt Owens, giving Rustin what seemed like a commanding 2-0 lead to with seven minutes remaining in the second period. 

Shandler continued to say, “I did not let them get to me” when talking about how he bounced back from the two goals he gave up, which was made obvious by how dominant he was stopping every puck after that. 

“That was absolutely the best he has played for us this year,” said Downingtown East coach Dave Hendricks. “He is starting to prove himself as one of the top goalies in the Ches-Mont.”

The game was far from over after the sudden surge from Rustin’s offense gave them the clear edge. 

Only 3:10 after Rustin took the 2-0 lead, Downingtown East’s offense finally showed some life. Ryan Prestayko opened the scoring on a breakaway off a pristine pass from Carter Vela for the final goal of the second period. 

Almost halfway through the final period of regulation, Vela, a freshman, tied the game at 2-2 with his first career varsity goal. Each team had their chances late in the third, but they were ultimately unable to convert and needed overtime to decide a winner. Both teams registered two shots each just 77 seconds into overtime; the final shot from Stankiewicz found the back of the net, assisted by his brother, Dan Stankiewicz.

“It felt amazing to hit the game winner,” Stankiewicz said. It comes from “the hard work we put in every practice and by doing the little things.” 

Stankiewicz and Hendricks both compared the pace to a “playoff game.”  Hendricks said they adjusted through “steady leadership from returning players who have been in difficult games before; they know it is just a matter of time before we can always come back.” 

West Chester Rustin is now 8-0-1-1 in the Ches-Mont and 13-1-1-1 overall. West Chester East is next on the list for the Golden Knights and this Friday they will look to bounce back. Downingtown East improves to 9-2 in the Ches-Mont and 12-4-1 overall and will play Avon Grove Friday.

Downingtown East 3, West Chester Rustin 2

Downingtown East 0 2 0 0 – 2
West Chester Rustin 0 1 1 1 – 3

Downingtown East goals: Goals: Prestayko, Vela, Stankiewicz.

Rustin Goals: Ferraro, Owens.

Saves: Shandler (DE) 25, Joel Keller (WCR) 17