Andrew Whipple’s second-period goal for the Riots broke a long, 0-0 stalemate with visiting Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills on Saturday evening. Whipple gave his squad a narrow lead, one they held onto until near the end of the game – when he struck again, sealing a Riots’ 2-0 victory.

“We came out flat. First period, we weren’t establishing the forecheck at all,” said Riots head coach Joe Robinson. “We actually looked like we were running an old forecheck that we don’t do anymore.

“I was trying to tell my guys, you know, these guys have a long bus ride, it’s cold; you want to jump on them early, but we didn’t. But we kept battling.”

The W bumps the Riots – who are comprised mostly of South Portlanders, but also a pair of Waynfleters and a trio of Freeporters – to 4-3 on the year. That’s middle-of-the-pack in the Heal Points, but of course, the season’s still relatively young. All of the Riots’ wins, as well as two of their losses, have been tight affairs decided by one- or two-goal margins. The streak is something of an uncomfortable habit for the squad.

“At this point, it’s an everyday thing for us,” Robinson said, verbally throwing his hands up. “Every game, we’re either down by one, or up by one.”

The Ice Cats, meanwhile, slip to 3-4. The team lingers just behind the Riots in the standings. Interestingly, there appears to be significantly more parity in A West this year than in recent seasons, with a number of perennial powerhouses – including Scarborough, Thornton and Biddeford – having shown some vulnerability.

The Riots and the Cats matched up evenly through the first period and into the second on Saturday. Both teams turned a chance or two; perhaps the most spectacular belonged to the Riots’ T-Moe Hellier, who broke away with the puck in the late first, nearly earning a dramatic one-on-one. The Cats’ Nick Lepage took Hellier down to save the opportunity, but the play sent Lepage to the box for tripping.

The Cats killed Lepage’s penalty, no problem; in the early second, though, Gabe Sappington drew a double-minor to put them down once more, and this time, the Riots took advantage. Kyle Halvorsen fed Whipple – the duo have superb chemistry, and have hooked up on a number of scores this year – and Whipple held on, and held on…just long enough to get the perfect look. He fired low-across to snap 20 scoreless minutes, 1-0.

“It looked like the goalie was banking glove-high the whole time,” Robinson said, “and [Whipple] just slammed it five-hole on the ice, which was nice, because I almost thought I saw the goalie come up a little bit. He definitely wasn’t expecting that.”

The scoring dried up again after that: The Riots couldn’t pry the game wide open, but nor could the Cats claw back from the narrow deficit. Finally, with just over a minute to play in the final period, Whipple zoomed in between the hash marks to pick up a Chris Mitchell pass from the corner, grab his second of the night and secure the win, 2-0.

“Nice pass from Chris Mitchell,” Robinson said, “and [Whipple] had that patience, where you’re coming across the slot and the goalie’s sliding with you, and you kiss the back door.”

Robinson had mixed feelings about the Riots’ performance, on the whole. “Our D was kind of weak tonight. They played very well last game; this game, first two periods, they were making a lot of the same old mistakes. Third period, they were better. But it’s a zero up on the board, so they played well enough.

“They’re just a little inexperienced. We’ve got a sophomore, two freshmen and a senior. And our third line was all freshmen tonight, so it’s a work in progress. They’re doing well, for being young; it’s that whole baptism-by-fire thing.

“Maybe getting back to school will help. I know it helps me, that more consistent routine.”

One of Robinson’s freshman defensemen is Freeport native Harrison Johnson, who’s happy to get the playing time and optimistic about the squad’s developing chemistry: “Everyone’s getting along; we’re starting to know each other a little more, to know where each other is going to be on the ice.”

The Riots travel to Brunswick on Thursday the 8th for a showdown with the Dragons, 6-1 in A East. The Cats host Windham on Saturday the 10th.

South Portland freshman Caleb Rowland cuts up ice on the attack for the Riots.The Riots’ Ian Young (17, South Portland) and Max Winson (7, Waynflete) race for the puck alongside the Ice Cats’ Nick Lepage (Lake Region).South Portlander Andrew Whipple posted a pair of goals – the game’s only scores – Saturday night.The Ice Cats’ Nick Lepage takes down the Riots’ T-Moe Hellier (South Portland) from behind; Lepage earned two minutes for the infraction, but didn’t give up the penalty shot.Magnus Holm (Lake Region) fires the puck forward for the Ice Cats.Harrison Johnson (Freeport) dumps the puck into the offensive zone for the Riots.The Riots’ Chris Mitchell crosses swords with an Ice Cats opponent.

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