ST. ALBANS — The BFA-St. Albans Comets scored a pair of third period powerplay goals and clinched the top seed in the upcoming VPA Division One State Tournament, rallying past the Rutland Raiders 2-1 on Wednesday evening inside the Collins-Perley Complex.

BFA, unbeaten since their season opener on December 14th, trailed the Raiders 1-0 into the game’s final six minutes before a pair of Rutland penalties gave the home team a 5×3 powerplay. BFA’s Linsey Larrow lifted a shot from the slot over the shoulder of Raiders goalkeeper Kristen Pariseau to tie the game at one. Then with Rutland still down a skater BFA’s Sophie Zemianek fired a high shot from the midpoint that buried into the top right corner of the net to give St. Albans the lead.

Until that third period turnaround it appeared the Raiders had the stuff to pull off the upset. Brilliant goalkeeping from Pariseau and intense defense and shot blocking kept Rutland in the game, and a second period powerplay goal by Maggie Schillinger gave them the 1-0 edge, but BFA’s rally was enough to give them the win.

the Comets, unbeaten in their last nineteen games, will head into the tournament as the top seed at 18-1-1. Rutland will go into tournament play at 11-8-1.