Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey holds off Yarmouth/Falmouth

By Matt Pascarella

An early goal and strong defense from the Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey team made a real difference during a late-season game against Yarmouth/Falmouth. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak were able to keep their opponent scoreless and posted a 1-0 win on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the William B. Troubh Ice Arena.

Cheverus junior Ashley Cloutier of Windham goes after the
puck during a girls' prep hockey game against Yarmouth/
Falmouth on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the William B. Troubh
Ice Arena in Portland. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“I thought we were playing a really good third period and we made some adjustments to our forecheck, until we took that penalty with about five minutes to go,” said the Cheverus/Windham/Medomak coach Scott Rousseau. “I thought we handled the last two minutes well; it’s always hectic ... but a great learning experience. We managed the puck well, we did not panic and not take icings and in the last minute I don’t think they really got a scoring chance. We only have four players back and I really hope these eight first-year players are ready for what’s coming; the playoffs are even more intense than this. If you interview (Yarmouth/Falmouth’s) coach, we made each other look bad, it was 1-0, it’s what good teams do to each other. We kind of took some of their strengths away, they took some of our strengths away. At the end we did show a lot of heart and character and find a way to win – and that matters.”

Cheverus/Windham/Medomak hit the ice with strong defense as these two teams were very evenly matched. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak moved the puck well and had intensity the entire game.

Cheverus sophomore Caroline Rousseau scored roughly halfway through the first period. Windham freshman Taylor Lucas had a solid check before the first period buzzer. It was 1-0 Cheverus/Windham/Medomak after one period.

In the second period, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s intensity remained, and their defense made sure to cut off scoring opportunities for Yarmouth/Falmouth. Cheverus goalie Ellie Skolnekovich had super-fast hands and kept a lot of pucks away from the back of the net.

“I see it as just another game,” said Skolnekovich, who had 21 saves during the game. “That’s my hometown – I get fired up when I play them, and I know their roster. It’s a 0-0 game in my head the whole way through and it’s really great. I think from the top down, we played really well; we played well as a team. We’re together ... and I think the biggest thing is I can’t thank my defense enough; I cover a puck and they’re right there to get people out of the way, I cover the puck, and they are right in front of me not letting anybody get to me and that’s really, really what builds our team up. I think we can pass the puck more and I think we can make less mental mistakes in the last two minutes of the game. I think we had a lot of adrenaline going and since it was a 1-0 game, it got a little bit intense at the end and I think that we can just build from there. I play a 0-0 game; my adrenaline was going, and I just played my game.”

Tensions built in the third and final period as both teams worked hard to put something up on the scoreboard. A block by Skolnekovich with a little over a minute left coupled with Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s defense only amplified this team’s tenacity. They kept back Yarmouth/Falmouth until the last buzzer.

“I think our forecheck was able to set it up differently so we can contain their better players,” said Lucas. “Our goalie played amazing tonight; she saved us. We had some good forechecks towards the beginning of the third period that went well. I think that we just need to work on getting the puck out faster in ... the defensive zone and move our feet.” <