Portland: Girls’ hockey drama kicks off postseason

One week in, it’s clear that it was worth the wait for the winter sports postseason.

The girls’ hockey playoffs have been palpitating and other sports are on the brink of crowning state champions.

Here’s a glimpse:

Girls’ hockey

Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland celebrates a goal during its epic, four-overtime win over Falmouth in Saturday’s South Region semifinal. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster

The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team has advanced to the South Region Final, but it took a miracle comeback to get there. Cape/Waynflete/SP, ranked first in the region, had no trouble with eighth-ranked Portland/Deering in the quarterfinal round last Wednesday at Troubh Ice Arena, winning, 8-2, behind two goals apiece from freshman Libby Hooper and junior captain Delaney Whitten.

“We were coming in thinking (Portland/Deering was) just as good as us because they’re talented and I think that really benefited us,” Whitten said.

“It wasn’t maybe our best effort over three full periods, but we got all of our girls involved in the game which is really good,” Cape/Waynflete/SP coach Bob Mills said. “Portland/Deering stayed in the game a little too long for my comfort, but we managed to take care of it.”

That sent Cape/Waynflete/SP to Saturday’s semifinal round to take on fourth-ranked Falmouth, a team which provided problems from the onset. Cape/Waynflete/SP took an early lead on a goal from senior captain Sofia Cook, but the Navigators immediately answered. Whitten then put her team on top early in the second period, but again, Falmouth countered, then took a 3-2 lead on a goal with 11 seconds to go. When the Navigators added another goal in the first minute of the third period, Cape/Waynflete/SP was on the ropes, but Bassett scored to provide hope, then senior Katharine Blackburn scored the biggest goal of her life, with just 7.1 seconds left, to force overtime.

“I couldn’t even see the net because there were so many people blocking it,” Blackburn said. “I think it might have gone over (the goalie’s) shoulder, I’m not sure. It was really surprising to me that it went in.”

One eight-minute, “sudden-victory” overtime didn’t decide matters, nor did a second or even a third, so a girls’ hockey state record setting fourth OT was necessitated and there, just 10 seconds in, Bassett set up Hooper for the golden goal and a 5-4 victory.

“There was a dump in, Marina skated the puck down and the puck ended up in the corner,” Hooper said. “I was in the high slot calling for it and had a quick release. To be honest, the shot wasn’t that pretty, but it didn’t matter. It’s a really great feeling to win. I’m very happy and very thankful for my teammates. There were so many emotions going up and down. It was worth it to play an amazing game.”

“We played Lewiston in the state final in 2020 and I thought that game was the best I’d ever seen, but this one rivaled that,” Mills said. “Boy, were we depleted at the end. We’re both exhausted and relieved.”

Cape/Waynflete/SP (13-2-2) will battle third-ranked Scarborough (11-6-1) in the South Region Final Wednesday at 7 p.m., at Troubh Ice Arena. The teams tied, 2-2, in the first meeting Dec. 23 in Gorham before the Red Storm took a 4-2 decision Jan. 22 in Portland. Scarborough has won three of four prior playoff encounters, but Cape/Waynflete/SP won the most recent, 3-2, in the 2020 South Region Final.

“It should be a fun night (Wednesday),” Mills said. “We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. We need to be prepared mentally as well as physically and be ready from the opening whistle.”

If Cape/Waynflete/SP makes it to states for the second straight time, it will either face reigning champion Lewiston (15-2) or Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland (11-5-2) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Troubh Ice Arena.

Cheverus’ Charlotte Miller skates with the puck during last week’s playoff win over Gorham. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Second-ranked Cheverus defeated No. 7 Gorham, 10-3, in its quarterfinal, as Olivia Bradford had three goals and Lily Johnson added two.

“All of our goals came as a team,” said Bradford, who was named last week as a semifinalist for the Becky Schaffer Award, given to the state’s outstanding senior player. “Every single one was assisted. We worked well together to produce those 10 goals. I think our goal was to jump on them early. We’re such a young team and most of us haven’t played a playoff game. It was good to get our nerves out.”

“It’s a good first step,” said Stags coach Scott Rousseau. “It was good to get rid of the jitters and get ready for the real show on Saturday. I thought we played a solid game for all three periods.”

Cheverus then took on third-ranked Scarborough Saturday and met its match in a three-overtime marathon. While Stags goalie Ella Lemieux excelled for nearly 69 minutes, keeping the Red Storm off the board, her teammates couldn’t score either and finally, with just 8.7 seconds to go in the third OT, Scarborough scored for a 1-0 victory, ending Cheverus’ fine season at 13-5-1.

“I’m really proud of these kids,” Rousseau said. “They played with amazing composure. We managed the puck terrific. We didn’t give up scoring chances. I couldn’t ask for anything more. We just didn’t win. Sometimes, that’s just hockey. We had a fabulous season. When you have a team as close as this team is, it hurts. I love coaching these kids and I think they like me back. They’re very good to each other. It’s not the losing that hurts, it’s that we don’t get to practice anymore.”

Portland/Deering got two goals from fabulous freshman Jane Flynn and 42 saves from goalie Caitlin Huynh in its quarterfinal round loss to Cape/Waynflete/SP as it finished the year 2-16.

“That’s a super solid team over there, but I think we got what we hoped for because I knew coming in we’d compete for 45 minutes and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for,” Portland/Deering coach Tom Clifford said. “Our growth as a group has been spectacular. We have 29 kids in the program and every single one of them has improved tremendously.”

Indoor track

Portland’s boys team was fourth at Saturday’s Southwestern Maine Activities Association championship meet at the University of Southern Maine. The Bulldogs had 84 points (South Portland was first with 142). Ben Prestes won the junior 400 (54.43 seconds), the junior 800 (2-minutes, 4.03 seconds) and the junior high jump (5 feet, 8 inches). Myles Hang was first in the junior shot put (41-00.75). Portland’s junior 4×200 relay team (Reegan Buck, Prestes, Jason Hargesheimer and Nathan Blades) was first in 1:41.49. Blades won the John Casavola Award as the boys’ junior division MVP. Cheverus (50 points) was seventh. Brendan Rogers won the junior 55 (6.92) and the junior 200 (23.92). Deering (24) came in 13th. The Rams got wins from Avery Lawrence in the junior long jump (18-10) and junior triple jump (38-3.25).

In the girls’ meet, won by Gorham with 131.833 points, Portland (77.333) was fifth, Cheverus (21) came in 13th and Deering (16) was 15th. The Bulldogs got first-place performances from Anneliese Collin in the junior 400 (1:03.47) and junior high jump (5 feet) and Samantha Moore in the junior 800 (2:26.49). Moore won the Harold Harmon Award as the girls’ junior division MVP. The Stags got a win from Annie Vigue in the open 600 (1:32.02).

In the Western Maine Conference championship meet, also at USM, Waynflete’s boys had 18 points and tied Greely for 11th (York won with 161.5 points). The Flyers got a win from Bryan Stark-Chessa in the open mile (4:41.05).

Waynflete’s girls didn’t score.

The Class A state meet is Monday at USM.

Swimming

The Deering-Portland girls’ co-op swim team tallied 182 points and finished third at last weekend’s North Division Southwesterns. Maria DelMonte won the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 15.27 seconds. Greely was first with 290 points. Cheverus (141) came in fifth and was paced by Taylor Belanger, who was first in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.24).

In the boys’ meet, won by Cape Elizabeth with 301 points, Deering-Portland (123) was sixth and Cheverus (68) was seventh.

In the South Division Southwesterns, Waynflete’s boys had 124 points to come in fourth (Kennebunk was first with 232 points). The Flyers’ 4×200 medley relay team (Ty Davis, Oscar Herrera, Wyatt Adams and Nico Herrera) was first in 1:59.51. Davin won the 100 backstroke in 1:04.32.

The Waynflete girls tallied 46 points and placed ninth (Yarmouth won with 233 points).

The swim state championship meets are next week.

Skiing

Waynflete’s girls came in second to Greely at last week’s Western Maine Conference Nordic ski championships. Julia Werner came in fifth in combined pursuit results, Sarah Morgan was sixth and Keegan Dolan placed eighth.

The boys were fifth, as Henry Wagg was the top finisher (12th).

The skiing state meets are next week.

Cheering

Portland (41.10 points) came in 16th and Deering (17.50) was 19th at Saturday’s Class A state cheering championship. Lewiston (87.50) was the champion.

Boys’ hockey

Boys’ hockey’s regular season still has a week to go.

South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport was third in the Class A Heal Points standings at press time at 10-5 following a 3-1 loss to Portland/Deering and a 6-1 victory over previously unbeaten Edward Little. Dylan Hannan had two goals and two assists in the win. SP/Waynflete/Freeport hosts Thornton Academy Thursday, visits Scarborough Saturday and welcomes Biddeford Tuesday of next week in the finale.

Portland/Deering moved up to 2-10 and 13th in Class A after a 3-1 loss to York and a 3-1 win over South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport. Portland/Deering was at Windham Monday, hosts Biddeford Thursday and welcomes St. Dom’s Monday.

Cheverus/Yarmouth was 9-4 and third in Class B South following home wins over Kennebunk (8-3) and Cape Elizabeth (3-2) last week. Wyatt Header had the game-winner versus the Capers, while Brian Connolly and Kevin Connolly also scored. Cheverus/Yarmouth welcomes Gorham Thursday, goes to Kennebunk Monday and hosts York Tuesday of next week.