BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL girls defenseman Suzannah Smith (19) pulls away from Scarborough’s Hannah Snider (12) during a hockey game at Sidney J. Watson Arena on Thursday. The Dragons improved to 3-1-1 with a 2-1 victory.
It has been a busy seven days for Brunswick High School girls hockey coach Bill Bodwell. On Dec. 2, son William Edward Bodwell came into the world, a healthy 8-pounds, 9-ounces, forcing him to miss Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Yarmouth.
This week, between waking up early to care for young William, the coach ran morning practices at Sidney J. Watson Arena in preparation for a talented Scarborough squad on Thursday, a team the Dragons lost to in the preseason.
Whether it was for their coach or not, the Dragons took a big step with their third straight victory, a narrow 2-1 win over the Red Storm as Brunswick improved to 3-1-1 with Lewiston slated to visit on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
“It has been a busy week for sure, but I think the girls were hungry for a win and understood this game was worth a lot of Heal Points,” said Bodwell after his team dropped the Red Storm to 3-2-1. “We are on a roll right now, and this team continues to develop. Anytime you can beat a Scarborough team it’s a big thing.”
Bodwell watched as his goaltender Claire Mendes made save after save, turning aside 34 Scarborough shots, including 25 over the final two periods as the Red Storm threw everything they had at the Brunswick cage, including three shots in the final 1:22 after the visitors pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.
“Claire is a gamer and continues to play well for us,” added Bodwell.
Solid start
Brunswick owned the first 12 minutes of the contest, outshooting Scarborough 11-3 and taking a 1-0 lead on the power play. Defenseman Jen Machin gained control of the puck behind her own net, skated around and past the Scarborough defense before firing a rising shot over the shoulder of Red Storm goaltender Devon Kane at 11:59.
Scarborough took over from there, firing six consecutive shots on Mendes, including a quality chance by Kristina Buck at the end of a power play to keep her team ahead.
The Red Storm continued to come in the early stages of the second period. Rachel Wallace tipped a pass from Sarah Martens on net, with Mendes kicking the puck away, and moments later Kaitlin Reynolds fired a shot from in tight, with Mendes making the save.
Despite being outshot 13-3 in the middle frame, Brunswick got the only goal. Eliza Brooks and Rachel Moroney put up a fierce forecheck, forcing a turnover. Brooks tipped the puck to Moroney to the left of Kane, with the forward’s shot finding the top of the net for a 2-0 Dragons edge after 30 minutes.
“It was a great setup from Eliza, and I was able to snipe the top corner,” said Moroney of her goal. “We were trying to play smart, and managed to outnumber their defender.”
Scarborough kept coming in the third period, getting a breakaway goal from Buck with eight minutes remaining. But, the defense of Suzannah Smith, Machin and Caroline Wild cleared the front of the net to give their goaltender a clear view of the Red Storms’ chances the rest of the way.
The Red Storm received a power play after Wild chased down Michaela Price from behind on a breakaway, with the defenseman receiving a hooking penalty, but Scarborough managed only a pair of harmless shots.
Kane went to the bench for an extra skater and received a golden chance to tie the contest when Martens tipped a shot from Kristen Murray with 17 seconds left, with the puck settling into the pads of Mendes.
Scarborough finished with a 35-20 shot advantage, with Kane turning aside 18 Brunswick shots. The Red Storm failed to score on two power-play opportunities, while the Dragons converted their lone chance with the man advantage.
Brunswick 2, Scarborough 1
At Sidney J. Watson Arena
Scarborough—001—1
Brunswick—110—2
First period — 1. (B) Jen Machin (Sarah
Thibeault), pp, 11:59. Penalties — (S)
Olivia McCrillis (tripping), 11:11; (B)
Sarah Thibeault (body checking), 13:11.
Second period — 2. (B) Rachel Moroney
(Eliza Brooks), 6:54. Penalties — None.
Third period — 3. (S) Kristina Buck (Kristen Murray), 6:25. Penalty — (B) Caroline
Wild (hooking), 9:47.
Shots on goal — (S) 9-13-13 — 35; (B)
12-3-5 — 20.
Saves — (S) Devon Kane 18; (B) Claire
Mendes 34.
Power play — Scarborough 0- 2;
Brunswick 1-1.
Records — Brunswick 3-1-1; Scarborough 3-2-1.
Next for the Dragons — Monday at home
against Lewiston (the teams tied 3-3 in
the opener Nov. 26).
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