A month ago, Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland freshman Marina Bassett was out sick and missed a game at reigning girls’ hockey state champion Lewiston.
Bassett got her shot at the Blue Devils on Wednesday afternoon at Troubh Ice Arena, and her second goal of the game 1:57 into overtime capped a comeback from a two-goal deficit and produced a 5-4 victory.
Cape Elizabeth, two days after downing Cheverus, improved to 10-2-2 and will likely be the top seed in the South region when the playoffs begin next week.
“It feels great to see everyone come together as a team and celebrate together,” said Bassett. “We missed some key players last time, but we knew we could beat them.”
Cape Elizabeth started fast, as Bassett set up Libby Hooper for a shot that beat Lewiston goalie Kim McLaughlin (17 saves) just inside the far post at 1:48 of the first period.
The Blue Devils (12-2) answered at 2:58, as a Lilly Gish shot from just inside the blue line got past goalie Abbey Steinhagen (35 saves).
At 6:51 of the first, Bassett had a shot saved by McLaughlin, but Catie Lee scored on the rebound to give Cape a 2-1 lead that it carried to the first intermission.
Lewiston then took over in a second period, outshooting the Capers 16-4.
At 6:08, Leah Landry knocked in the rebound of a St. Hilaire shot. Lewiston then killed a penalty without allowing a shot, and at 11:18, Landry set up Leah Dube for the go-ahead strike.
After McLaughlin twice saved potential tying bids from Hooper, Kristen Lachance scored on the rebound of Alyssa Marcoux’s shot at 12:58. Rebecca Lussier also earned an assist, and the Blue Devils had a 4-2 advantage heading to the third period.
Cape then found a renewed energy.
Just 1:40 into the third, Hartson Mosunic scored on a rebound after a Becca Good shot.
Bassett then tied it with another rebound goal at 2:47, after a shot by Hooper.
In overtime, Bassett got the puck on the left side, raced in, skated around the cage and tucked the puck past McLaughlin.
“I saw the goalie wasn’t on the other side, so I skated around and put it in,” said Bassett. “It feels awesome.”
“The team’s being led by a lot of underclassmen right now,” said Cape Coach Bob Mills. “Marina is very skilled and she had the desire to win the game.”
Lewiston finished with a 39-22 edge in shots, but couldn’t score in the final 19 minutes.
“It just kind of fell apart,” said Blue Devils Coach Ron Dumont. “They did a great job and moved the puck on us east to west and we haven’t seen a lot of that. It’s a tough way to lose one, but it’s a lesson learned and better to learn it now.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
