BRUNSWICK — The York/Traip/Marshwood Wildcats rallied late to sneak by the Brunswick Dragons, 4-3, on the opening night of high school girls hockey at Sidney J. Watson Arena.
Brunswick had trouble containing Wildcats forward Sophie Santamaria, who factored in all four Wildcat goals, including two breakaway tallies in the third period to put York in front. Brunswick was unable to respond after Santamaria’s third goal with 1:20 remaining in the game.
It was Mike Routhier’s first game behind the bench on the girls side for Brunswick after two different stints with the boys team (2001-2006 and 2008-2014). Routhier’s Dragons outshot the Wildcats, 29-22, and won the puck possession battle in the game’s early stages. Brunswick started fast in the opening period, with Elena Palmer and Greta White generating chances in the offensive end. Palmer picked off a pass just inside the blue line, forcing a big early save from York goalie Erin Gray on a shot from the top of the slot.
Despite the chances, York struck first just over four minutes into the game. Nora Gilbert picked up a loose puck in the corner and found Santamaria alone in front of the goal. Santamaria ripped a shot into the top corner of the net to open the scoring.
Brunswick’s sophomore duo of Palmer and White responded with 9:12 remaining in the period. Palmer danced around a York defender to get a chance in alone on Gray. White buried the rebound off Palmer’s initial shot.
“We lean on them heavily already as sophomores,” said Routhier. “They did a nice job. They play well together and they feed off one another very well.”
Brunswick added another tally just before time expired in the opening frame. Palmer won a faceoff back to Emily Factor, with her shot from the point deflecting off a York defender, giving the Dragons a 2-1 lead with under one second remaining.
Brunswick carried the momentum into the second period. White was able to get in behind the Wildcat defense, taking a pass from Palmer and beating Gray under her pad to give the Dragons a 3-1 lead 3:22 into the second.
York responded just two minutes later as Santamaria won a loose puck in the offensive zone, getting the puck up to Jill Carr on the blue line. Carr’s shot found a way through a screen of players and into the back of the Dragon net.
Brunswick’s best chance to regain a two-goal lead came from Palmer, who split two defenders but was denied on the breakaway by Gray. The save seemingly swung momentum in the Wildcats’ favor. York reeled off the last four shots of the period, but Dragon goaltender Nadia Leiner was up to the task. Leiner preserved a 3-2 lead for the Dragons heading into the final period.
“The first couple periods was back and forth,” said Wildcats coach Kevin Purdy. “Goaltending was amazing, and they have a good team. It was fun for me to watch.”
Brunswick pushed to extend the lead early in the third period. Gray denied a pair of Factor shots from the high slot area to keep her team within a goal.
With just over six minutes remaining, Santamaria picked up a blocked shot at the point and went in alone, beating Leiner low under the blocker to even the game.
Santamaria’s second breakaway goal of the period came off another turnover near the Brunswick blue line. Jordan McKie picked off a pass and sent Santamaria off to the races, finishing with another low shot similar to her first breakaway and giving York a 4-3 lead with 1:20 remaining.
“They battled back in the third they didn’t give up,” said Purdy. “They were very positive in the locker room.”
“I think it was a couple of tough bounces,” said Routhier. “They came back the other way and we were just a little flat-footed at the blue line.”
A cross-checking penalty assessed to York with 30 seconds remaining made for an exciting finish. Brunswick pulled their goalie for a two-played advantage, but the Wildcats were able to keep the puck away from their net and clear their zone in the scramble.
“The last couple of plays we drew some stuff up and they executed,” said Purdy. “That’s on them not on me. I can draw whatever I want up, but if they don’t execute it doesn’t matter.”
For Brunswick, there’s some positives that can be taken into its next game at Scarborough Friday (8:30 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine). The Dragons not only held the shot advantage, but Routhier pointed to the experience gained by his team. The Dragons have 11 players on the roster who are either a freshman or sophomores.
“Collectively I thought we competed well,” said Routhier. We didn’t have our captain (Beth Labbe) tonight, but at the same time it gives some other players the opportunity to play more time.”
“It’s just getting pucks deeper, getting pucks through to the net a little bit better,” he added. “Those are all building blocks we’ll keep working on as the season goes.”
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
