PORTLAND—Scarborough and Cheverus’ girls’ hockey teams had a tough act to follow Saturday evening at Troubh Ice Arena.
After top-ranked Cape Elizabeth/South Portland/Waynflete outlasted upset-minded No. 4 Falmouth in a four-overtime epic, the third-ranked Red Storm and second-seeded Stags took the ice for their South Region semifinal over an hour later than expected and they too needed multiple OTs to produce a winner.
Cheverus sophomore goalie Ella Lemieux was sensational throughout, but Scarborough senior goalie Ariella Swett was perfect and something had to give.
After neither team scored in 45 minutes of regulation, then played scoreless through one eight-minute, “sudden victory” overtime, then another, the third period rolled by without a goal as well, but just when it appeared another four-OT contest was on tap, Red Storm senior Evelyn Boardman played the hero, scoring with 8.7 seconds to go and Scarborough had a scintillating 1-0 victory.
The Red Storm improved to 11-5-1, ended the Stags’ campaign at 13-5-1 and advanced to take on Cape Elizabeth/SP/Waynflete (13-2-2) in the South Region Final Wednesday at a time to be announced at Troubh Ice Arena.
“Playing a whole game and three overtimes without an outcome is frustrating, but Coach (Taylor Fowler) reminds us to have a positive mentality and stay mentally tough,” said Boardman.
Marathon
Scarborough, which barely had a season a year ago, went 25 days between games in one COVID-related stretch this winter, but when it did take the ice, it was quite formidable, losing only to Cheverus twice and Edward Little, York and Lewiston once, along with tying Cape/SP/Waynflete. The Red Storm impressed in Wednesday’s quarterfinal round, eliminating No. 6 Biddeford, 4-1.
Cheverus was solid all year, then ousted No. 7 Gorham (10-3) in the the quarterfinals Wednesday, but in retrospect, the Stags probably wished they’d saved a goal or two.
The Stags opened with a 6-1 win at Scarborough Dec. 3, then eked out a 2-1 home victory over the Red Storm Jan. 21.
Cheverus had taken three of four prior playoff meetings, with a 3-2 overtime victory in the 2019 South Region semifinals the most recent.
This time around, in front of a large and vocal crowd, overtime would be necessary once more.
Make that three overtimes.
Cheverus junior Elle Cooney races into the offensive zone as Scarborough senior Lillian Finley gives chase. Hoffer photos.
Both teams had chances in the first period, again in the second and on into the third, but Lemieux and Swett refused to buckle.
The game went to overtime and Boardman and Cheverus senior Olivia Bradford each had multiple looks to end it, but couldn’t find the net.
After the ice was resurfaced, just five seconds into the second OT, Bradford skated in hoping to win it, but Swett stood tall.
Scarborough had its chance too, but Lemieux stopped shots from Boardman, senior Lillian Finley, senior Morgan Scoville and sophomore Maeve Davis on a rebound.
Later in OT, Swett stopped a bid from sophomore Lily Johnson, then she robbed Bradford after a nice move.
Senior Calynn Gendreau then threatened to win it for the Red Storm on a breakaway, but Lemieux made the stop.
In the final minute, Boardman had a shot saved and the game would go to a third overtime.
There, sophomore Mikayla Talbot nearly scored 22 seconds in, but Swett stuck her pad out and kicked the puck aside, keeping the contest going.
“I convinced myself that it’s not stressful,” said Swett. “It was a little bit in the beginning, but as the game went on, I trusted my teammates. I knew they had my back.”
“We have a lot of confidence in ‘A.J.,'” said Boardman. “We know we have the number one goalie in the state.”
“It makes it easier to take a deep breath to know if (A.J.’s) on her angle and has sight of the puck, she’ll stop it,” Fowler added. “She was huge for us. She made over 40 saves.”
After Swett denied Bradford and poked the puck away from freshman Lucy Johnson at the last second, Boardman remained frustrated when she had a pair of shots denied by Lemieux.
The clock then wound down and it appeared another break for resurfacing, followed by a fourth OT would be imminent, but in the blink of an eye, Scarborough ended matters.
After the puck was battled for in the corner, it popped out front to Boardman and this time, at 9:41 p.m., with just 8.7 seconds showing in the third overtime, Boardman scored her biggest goal yet.
“I saw the puck come to me and there was a hole up top and I shot it,” said Boardman.
“As soon as I saw ‘Ev’ get the puck, I knew she’d get it in,” said Swett.
“I was chatting with the next line going out, then everyone started cheering,” added Fowler. “Evelyn works hard. When she wants it, she makes it happen. She’s been huge for us all season.”
“It looked like the puck got stuck and our defender went to help and got tangled up and then you had two defenders stuck behind the goal line,” lamented Cheverus coach Scott Rousseau.
The Red Storm then mobbed Boardman and celebrated along the far boards.
Scarborough celebrates the game-winning goal.
“I was just so excited we scored,” Boardman said. “It’s a great feeling. It was crazy. Waiting to get on the ice, building anticipation, it was a rush.”
“I just tried my hardest to get there to celebrate, but my legs were tired,” Swett said. “We wanted this so badly. Every break we had, we reminded each other how much we wanted it.”
“I thought my heart rate was going to skyrocket,” Fowler added. “I’m glad it’s done. It was awesome to see the seniors come together and leave it all out there. I told them it would come down to heart and who wanted it more. Cheverus is a great team and Elle is a great goalie. We knew it wouldn’t come easily and it took three overtimes. The girls played a full 45 (minutes) and then some. It’s the best game we’ve played all season. We came together when we needed it the most. Cheverus has been a big rival all season. The girls really wanted this.”
Cheverus, meanwhile, was left crestfallen.
“I’m really proud of these kids,” Rousseau said. “Our young kids played great. Age wasn’t a factor at all. 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 had chances. We played great defensively. We just couldn’t get the puck past A.J. tonight and they made a play at the end. 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. You’d think it’s nature’s way, usually you have to lose to learn to win, but I don’t know if that applies, because we played well enough to win.”
Rest up
Scarborough has enjoyed success against Cape/SP/Waynflete this season. 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 is 3-1 all-time in the playoff series, but Cape/SP/Waynflete took the most recent encounter, 3-2, in the 2020 South Region Final.
Expect another thriller.
Where again, more than 45 minutes might be necessary.
“It’s going to be a hard game,” Boardman said. “We’ll have to bring everything we’ve got to come out on top.”
“We have to leave it all on the ice just like we did today,” Swett said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
“I think it’ll be another battle,” added Fowler. ‘Cape’s a very good team with very skilled players. We’ll have to come ready.”
Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
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