ALBANY, N.Y. - Corinne Zanolli's overtime goal lifted No. 16 Stanford past Albany 3-2 on Sunday morning in the final game of the regular season for both teams.
Stanford (8-2, 6-2 America East) proved clutch when it mattered most against Albany (5-5, 4-4 America East) in what represented a play-in game to next weekend's conference tournament for the winner.
Thanks to Zanolli's game-winner, the Cardinal booked a spot in the revamped four-team America East Championship, scheduled to be hosted by Maine or Monmouth, with the draw expected to be finalized later Sunday.
Stanford, which avoided being swept on its three-game, four-day East Coast road swing after a 7-0 start, outshot Albany 9-7 while the Great Danes held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Zanolli fired off a game-high four shots and scored twice, increasing her season total to 14. Zanolli's first goal in the ninth minute tied the game at 1-1, finding the cage off a penalty corner with assists from Megan Frost and Sarah Johnson.
Kaylie Mings contributed an unassisted goal at the 20:35 mark to put the Cardinal in front 2-1 heading into halftime.
The game would stay that way until the 58th minute, when Elaina Burchell came through with the equalizer, allowing Albany a chance to force extra time.
At the 63:16 mark of overtime, Zanolli scored again following an assist from Fenella Scutt, giving the Cardinal its first overtime victory of the season.