ADAMS TWP — One goal wasn't going to defeat Mars.

Tyler Stepke made sure two goals wouldn't do it, either.

With the score tied at one and the Planets on a power play late in the second period of the PIHL Class A state championship game Saturday at the Ice Lines rink in West Chester, disaster nearly struck.

Springfield's Conor Doyle grabbed the puck and had a clear breakaway shorthanded against Stepke. The netminder made the save, Elliot Tisdale scored moments later and Mars was on its way to a 5-2 victory.

Nick Blaney scored a hat trick and Tisdale had the other two goals for Mars (24-1), which won its second consecutive state crown.

“That kid was in clear from the red line,” Stepke said. “I had seen in another game that their kid tried going backhand to forehand on a breakaway.

“I don't know if it was the same player, but I was prepared for the same move. And I got it.”

Stepke slid his leg out to the post and made the stop with his skate.

“We owe this one to Ty,” Blaney said. “If they score there, I'm not sure if we win this game.”

Assistant coach Mark Manganello agreed.

“All of the momentum was with them at that point,” Manganello said.

Blaney got Mars on the scoreboard in the first period by picking up a rebound and snapping a wrist shot past Cougars goalie Mile Rice, who entered the game with a 1.68 goals against average.

Springfield (17-6-3) tied the game shortly before Stepke made the game-changing save.

Moments after the stop, Tisdale led a break the other way and scored the eventual game-winning goal. Blaney added his second goal before the end of the period as the Planets took a 3-1 lead into the third.

“Once Tisdale got that goal, we were on our way,” Stepke said. “You could feel the tone of the entire game change. That sequence had to deflate them.”

When Blaney scored his third goal of the contest in the final period, the issue was decided.

In an early February game against Kittanning — Mars' lone loss of the season — Blaney suffered a major knee injury and figured his season was over.

“How did I come back? I can't even answer that. It almost has to be a miracle,” Blaney said. “These last couple of games, I felt no pain at all.”

While Blaney had three goals and an assist, linemates Joe Bender and Austin Heakins had two assists each. All three are juniors.

“They had no answer for that line,” Manganello said of Springfield. “Those guys were dominant the entire game. The fact that they're all juniors ... It's great knowing they're all coming back.”

Stepke is graduating, however, and Tisdale is undecided as to his immediate hockey future.

Stepke, who had a 1.52 goals against average and allowed only three goals in the postseason, leaves the Planets with three Penguins Cups and two state titles. He made 33 saves Saturday.

Mars suffered a 5-0 loss to Bayard Rustin in the state title game two years ago at the Ice Lines rink.

“We were celebrating Saturday night, talking about all of that stuff,” Stepke said. “And this program's not going to go away.”

“We're looking to do it again. I feel like we can,” Blaney said.

Manganello said Mars will remain in Class A next year.

“We're losing a lot of seniors and the competition is picking up,” he said. “We're planning on staying put.”

The Planets outscored the opposition 59-3 in their final seven games this season.

Mars coach Steve Meyers missed the last two games as he was on his honeymoon.