As a freshman last season, Abby Lamontagne was the leading scorer for the Cheverus/Kennebunk girls’ hockey team with 27 goals.
Lamontagne is still a top scoring threat, but so far in the early stages of this season, the Stags haven’t needed her to carry the offense. Thursday against Yarmouth/Freeport, Lamontagne was one of nine players to notch a goal in an 11-0 win at Troubh Ice Arena.
“Our best players are not dominating the score sheet right now,” Cheverus Coach Scott Rousseau said. “That speaks to our depth right now – we’re getting contributions offensively not just from our forwards, but our defense as well.”
Sophia Pompeo led the Stags (2-0) with a hat trick and an assist. They outshot the Clippers 44-1, keeping Yarmouth freshman goalie Allie Perrotta busy throughout.
“We knew they were going to be fast, and I think it really opened the girls’ eyes to see how quickly things can turn if they’re not in the right positions,” Yarmouth Coach Megan Vaughan said. “I’m excited to see how (Cheverus does) against (defending state champion) St. Dom’s.”
The Stags also shut out Falmouth – last season’s Southern Maine champion – 6-0 in their season opener Saturday. Five players scored in that game.
“It’s a reflection of our league right now and the gaps between the (teams),” Rousseau said. “Our possession game off the cycle is good but could be better. I think it will have to be better if we’re going to chase St. Dom’s. That’s a lofty goal, but someone has got to take them down.”
Cheverus will host St. Dominic – which owns a 27-game winning streak – on Dec. 16. Rousseau expects Scarborough, another perennial contender, to pose his team’s first real test on Wednesday, when they’re scheduled to play in Portland.
Cheverus opened the scoring against Yarmouth (0-2-1) just 1:23 into the game when Emma McCauley fed Lamontagne from behind the net. Terryn MacDonald, a defenseman, made it 2-0 less than three minutes later with a shot that sailed through traffic.
Pompeo scored her first goal with 2:08 left in the first period, unassisted, as she wove through the defense before tapping in the puck. Abby Enck, another defenseman, scored next with an assist from Olivia Adams, connecting from the point to give the Stags a 4-0 lead entering the second period.
Less than three minutes into the second period, Adams converted a Caitlin Wolff pass. Pompeo scored with an assist from defenseman Zoe Mazur just 32 seconds later, then added a power-play goal, assisted by Lamontagne. McCauley made it 8-0 before the end of the period with a goal assisted by Pompeo.
“It obviously wasn’t just me – everyone on this team worked hard together,” Pompeo said. “We were setting each other up – we don’t care who scores. We just want to finish.”
In the third period, Wolff scored an unassisted goal before assisting on a goal by Hannah Woodford. Evie Roop rounded out the scoring with a short-handed goal, assisted by Mazur.
“I think defense is the biggest strength of our team right now,” Rousseau said. “Even though our forwards are great at the cycle game, it’s because we’re getting out of our zone easily.”
Taylor Vortherms can be contacted at 791-6417 or:
tvortherms@pressherald.com
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