LEWISTON — The Scarborough High girls’ hockey team learned from a loss last week. And Wednesday, it paid off.
After losing to Falmouth a week ago, the Red Storm came out ready in the rematch and emerged with a 3-2 victory at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
“Scarborough was ready,” Falmouth Coach Rob Carrier said. “They played a much more intense game this time around than last Wednesday … You can tell that is a team that is ready for the playoffs.”
“Today we had nothing to lose,” Scarborough Coach Caitlin D’Amour said. “We already lost to them … I told my players to go out there and work hard, and they did.”
It was a different story from a week ago.
“We just came out flat-footed last week,” D’Amour said. “We played like we were intimidated. We didn’t play our systems. This week we did come out and play, right from the beginning.”
“They really stuck it to us (and) made it difficult for us to get any sort of traction going,” Carrier said. “Obviously it showed up in the shots on goals and the score at the end.”
Scarborough held a 30-23 edge in shots on goal.
The victory pulled the Red Storm (12-4-1) close to the top-ranked Yachtsmen (12-4) in the South Division Heal point standings. Scarborough finishes the regular season Saturday against Traip Academy/York. Falmouth has games remaining with Portland/Deering and Cheverus/Kennebunk/Old Orchard Beach.
Falmouth opened the scoring with 21 seconds left in the first period when sophomore Rachel Morse slid a backhander past goalie Kenzie Cormier for her first varsity goal. Evie Clement set up the goal by threading a centering pass from the back wall through a defender to Morse in the slot.
Less than five minutes into the second period, Taylor Veilleux tied it when she tipped in Ellie Smith’s long pass.
About five minutes later, Courtney Brochu, after picking off a clearing pass in the top of the slot, sent a shot from the middle of the left circle inside the far post to give Scarborough a 2-1 lead.
Less than two minutes into the third period, Veilleux made it 3-1 when she poked the puck in during a power play.
After the Yachtsmen pulled goalie Ally Hurdman for an extra skater while on a power play, Sarah Noyes completed the scoring with 14 seconds left.
Hurdman made 12 of her 27 saves in the first period to keep the Red Storm scoreless.
“Ally gives us her best every game,” Carrier said. “In games where the rest of the team isn’t quite there, she gives us a chance.”
Cormier made 23 saves, many outstanding.
“Kenzie can stayed composed throughout the game,” D’Amour said. “Sometimes when there are long lulls, it’s hard to stay focused, and she was able to stay focused and communicate when she couldn’t see the puck.”
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