Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey force overtime, narrowly lose in state final

By Matt Pascarella

Making their fourth consecutive state championship appearance, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey played Yarmouth/Falmouth at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 14. These two teams went scoreless for 45 straight minutes, each battling for the win. Midway through overtime, Yarmouth/Falmouth scored and won, 1-0.

The Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls' hockey team
displays the state runner-up plaque after a heartbreaking 
loss in overtime against Yarmouth/Falmouth at the
Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn on Saturday,
Feb. 14. The Cheverus/Windham/Medomak team was
appearing in its fourth consecutive state championship
game. PHOTO BY MEREDITH ROUSSEAU 

“This team (Cheverus) is completely different than anything we were in November,” said Cheverus/Windham/Medomak coach Scott Rousseau. “To go on a 12-1 run and get to overtime in the state final, I couldn’t ask for anything more. The other raw emotion is we lost to a good hockey team, it was their time tonight ... congratulations to them and their players, they were fantastic. We preach all the time that I don’t know how we’re going to do it, but if we have faith in each other, we’ll figure it out – and that’s what makes a loss like this so difficult. You got a lot of girls that were really proud ... and we weren’t just going to give it away and the result was a memorable game.”

This was the third time in four years these two teams had faced each other. The game opened with incredible intensity and defense. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak took several shots on goal, but nothing landed. Cheverus senior goalie Ellie Skolnekovich let nothing by her in any period.

Cheverus/Windham/Medomak aggressiveness did not wane in the second period. Their offense took every opportunity it could, but Yarmouth/Freeport defense was tough. They worked hard to be first to the puck, but the game remained scoreless.

“It was amazing to get the chance and play for this team,” said Windham freshman Logan Curry. “It was (about) supporting each other through the whole thing. Everyone was nervous, we knew we had to play tough, play hard. Yarmouth/Freeport is a great team, and we knew we had to ... show them what Cheverus has. Once we got it, we forechecked liked crazy, we kept the puck in and created opportunities; our defense did not give up, they played phenomenal. I think we played our hardest, I don’t think any of us will go back with regrets, we played our hearts and played for each other.”

Stag offense kept at it in the third period while the Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s defense remained exceptional.

As the clock wound down it was clear this game was going into overtime.

Roughly halfway through the overtime period, Yarmouth/Freeport scored. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak intensity remained for well past 45 minutes of play.

“I kept telling myself, I’m made for (tough moments),” said Cheverus Skolnekovich, who had 23 saves during the game. “And we were built for moments like that; we weren’t ever really nervous about it being 0-0 ... it was no different than any other game and I kept telling myself one play at a time, and every puck that came, I found a way (to block it). I stayed in the moment and I went for it. We knew we had to play hard, and they were going to come out, and they were going to want to win. The further and further we got into the game with it being 0-0 we knew they were going to get anxious, but props to Yarmouth/Falmouth they stayed really composed. We played our game and we focused on us. I give props to Logan Curry, we put a lot of pressure on her this year ... we worked really, really hard and we played for each other and that was the biggest thing.”

Rousseau said 45 scoreless minutes says this is a very disciplined and intelligent team. They were hoping for that one chance and unfortunately that didn’t happen. They overachieved ... this year. By all measurements, it was a dream season that came up one dream short. <