The Naples Labeda Kaos are now just one win away from a PIHA Pro Division championship after an incredible come-from-behind 3–2 overtime win against the Suffolk Sting in Game 4 on Sunday morning.
Down by two after the first period and held without a shot in the second, Naples stormed back with two unanswered goals in regulation before Payton Baldillez buried the overtime winner to stun the Sting and give the Kaos a commanding 3–1 series lead.
First Period: Sting Surge Early
The Sting came out fast and efficient, capitalizing early on Kaos miscues. PJ DiMartino opened the scoring at 10:56, snapping one past Steve Brandi off a clean zone entry to make it 1–0.
Just over 90 seconds later, Max Halvorsen doubled the lead with a beautiful passing play from Billy Pascalli and Anthony Koslow at 9:13. The Sting held a 16–12 edge in shots and a 2–0 lead heading into the break.
Second Period: Kaos Dig Deep
Despite being held without a shot in the second period, the Kaos made their limited opportunities count.
With 10:10 remaining, Vinny Cafone got Naples on the board, finishing off a sequence created by aggressive forechecking. Then, just over a minute later at 9:03, Derek Schultz tied the game with a sharp-angle snipe, assisted by Trevor Mullaly.
While Suffolk outshot Naples 16–14 through regulation, it was Kaos goaltender Steve Brandi who kept his team alive, turning aside everything in the second period and keeping the score level into overtime.
Overtime: Baldillez Plays Hero
The extra frame remained tight until Payton Baldillez jumped up into the play and scored the game-winner at 6:43 of OT, completing the dramatic comeback. The goal capped a wild swing in momentum that saw the Kaos erase a two-goal deficit with just two shots in the second period, then finish the job in sudden death.
Brandi earned the win with 12 saves on 14 shots, including critical stops in the final minutes and overtime. On the other end, Anthony Butrico was strong with 14 saves on 16 shots, but the Sting couldn’t generate another shot after the first period.
What’s Next: Championship Within Reach
With the Kaos now leading the series 3–1, they’ll have their first chance to clinch the PIHA Pro Championship in Game 5 later today. The Sting, reeling after a heartbreaker, will need to regroup quickly to avoid elimination.
Puck drops this afternoon as the Finals continue—with the Kaos holding all the momentum.