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.” <

Surge in third period solidifies girl's hockey victory for Cheverus/Windham/Medomak

By Matt Pascarella

The Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey team added another win to an impressive season when a third-period surge resulted in multiple goals. Its game against Saint Dominic Academy ended in a 4-0 shutout victory on Saturday, Dec. 28 at the William B. Troubh Ice Arena in Portland.

Windham freshman Taylor Lucas keeps her eyes on the puck
during a girls' prep ice hockey game against Saint Dominick
Academy on Saturday, Dec. 28 at William B. Troubh Ice
Arena in Portland. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

"We weren’t playing with a lot of a passion and energy (early on),” said Cheverus/Windham/Medomak coach Scott Rousseau. “I thought we played very well in the second period, especially the last seven, eight minutes; our younger forwards started getting more involved in the forward check, we were getting really close to the net, we were missing or (shots were blocked). I thought we showed a lot of resolve to stay patient and stay with it and we got a break with the power play and that relaxed everybody a little bit and took a comfortable lead from there. In the long run, I think it’ll be a good experience for us to feel some tension and anxiety and be comfortable winning 1-0. We need to rely on our younger, inexperienced players to get that experience and start wanting the puck and make those plays. We’re going to have to play low scoring, tight-checking games and be comfortable with that; at the end, I thought we’ll take that learning experience and keep moving forward.”

Cheverus/Windham/Medomak came out a little slow in the first period, but had stellar defense, with multiple shots on goal. Roughly seven minutes into the first period, Cheverus sophomore Caroline Rousseau scored, assisted by Cheverus junior Joey Pompeo.

While the second period was scoreless, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s intensity picked up as they continued to give Saint Dominic Academy’s goalie a workout. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak commanded the ice. Their defense remained strong.

In the third period, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak really turned up the intensity. Seven minutes into the period, Cheverus senior Lucy Johnson scored, assisted by Cheverus senior Zoey Radford. With two minutes remaining Caroline Rousseau scored again, assisted by Windham junior Ashley Cloutier. Windham freshman Taylor Lucas scored, assisted by Caroline Rousseau with less than 15 seconds remaining to end the game on a high note.

“It was a really great pass from Caroline; I was there in the right spot in the right time,” said Lucas. “Despite not playing as well as we wanted to in the first ... we were able to pull together as a team and play really well in the second and third. I feel like we got more energy going on the bench and just brought ourselves together. In the second and the third periods we did really well at passing. I feel like in this game we should’ve come out stronger in the first period, but overall, we did really well.”

Windham junior Ashley Cloutier said the team had good teamwork toward the end, but they need to get that going earlier in the game. It was a spark inside them that got them to work together to score multiple goals in the third period.

“We started pretty slow, but after a while our defense started making quicker passes and quicker decisions and our forwards started getting involved in the cycle game,” said Caroline Rousseau. “We wore the Saint Dom’s players out and I think it just took us a second, but once we got it going, we started making quicker decisions and started moving our feet a bit quicker and got our head in the right space. We definitely started passing more ... all of our goals in the third came off passes with a quick release. Making those quick decisions, making the pass without holding on too long really helped us.” <

Wrestling team shows strength at Cheverus Invitational

Assistant Coach Chris Smith, Jason Hart, Gabe Rosado, Andrew Martin, Owen McDuffie, Scott Ingalls, Garrett Allen, Head Coach John Nicholas. Submitted photo

By Matt Pascarella

Windham/Gray New Gloucester (GNG) travelled to Cheverus High School for the second annual Cheverus Invitational which took place on Saturday, January 18^th. The meet had ten other competing schools/teams: Biddeford/Thornton Academy, Cheverus, Deering, Fryeburg Academy, Gardiner, Kennebunk, Monmouth, Mountain Valley, Oceanside and York.

Scott Ingalls wrestled first in the 138-weight class against Kennebunk. Ingalls quickly escaped his opponent’s grip and after a short time pinned Kennebunk.

Gabe Rosado wrestled Kennebunk in the 126-weight class. Rosado fought hard and locked his hands to keep his opponent in position. Rosado flipped his opponent and pinned him.

Owen McDuffie wrestled Gardiner in the 152-weight class. He was aggressive and slammed his opponent to the mat. McDuffie was quick and escaped the hold of his opponent. He pinned Gardiner for the ‘W.’

Jason Hart wrestled Cheverus in the 182-weight class. He got a take down and pinned for the win.

Garrett Allen took on Mount Valley in the 285-weight class.  He pinned his opponent less than 30 seconds into the first period.

In the 160-weight class, Dante Felix wrestled Biddeford/Thornton Academy. He pressured by lunging after his opponent. Felix took Biddeford/Thornton Academy right to the mat and held them there. Neither team was able to pin the other, but Felix got the win.

Andrew Martin wrestled in the 170-weight class against Deering. Martin’s intensity got a take down and held his opponent to the mat, until pinned.

Ingalls, Rosado, McDuffie, Hart, Allen and Martin all made it to the finals. After several good matches; Martin was the champion; McDuffie and Allen came in second; Ingalls third; Rosado and Hart fourth.

“It felt good to just feel dominant,” said senior Andrew Martin. “Coming out and winning a tournament for a school that’s coming up and making people [see] that we’re on the rise.”

“Any time you can bring home six medals with nine kids, is a pretty good day,” remarked coach John Nicholas. “I was happy with the day overall. The kids are working hard and we’re doing really well. The ultimate goal is to push as many kids through to states, so we still got a couple weeks to work it out.”

Ski team shows a strong start to upcoming season

Emma Debrosse

By Matt Pascarella

On Friday, January 3^rd the Alpine ski team hit the slopes at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton for their season opener, competing in the Giant Slalom against Gorham, Marshwood, Kennebunk, Falmouth and Cheverus. Each athlete took two runs and their total time was those two runs added together.

Windham gave it all they had as they rounded the gates with focus and determination; passing through the finish line at high speeds.

Girls

The top finishers were:

Sarah Hare finished first among the team (and first overall among the girls) with a time of 1:11.46 minutes.

Grace Paiement with a time of 1:25.61

Annie Jackson with a time of 1:26.79

Emma Debrosse with a time of 1:28.84

Mya Bolk with a time of 1:40.63

Julia Thompson with a time of 1:54.95

And team captain Madelynn McGary with a time of 2:03.30

The girls placed third overall with a total of 63 points.

Boys

The top finishers were:

Nolan Dries with a time of 1:17.08

Benjamin White with a time of 1:17.63

Logan Marden with a time of 1:19.35

Cody Taylor with a time of 1:23.11

Owen Flibbert with a time of 1:29.92

And Samuel Plummer with a time of 2:03.02

The boys placed fourth overall with a total of 68 points.

“[We have] a lot of new freshman, and they were extremely surprising in their skill,” observed coach Emily Atwood. “The freshman we have are great...positive; a lot we can work with this season. The returning skiers were incredibly helpful and supportive to the new racers on our team. It was a great first race and with this amount of talent, I think we will have a very strong and competitive season.”

Field hockey teams puts forth back-to-back solid efforts

Mya Bolk

By Matt Pascarella

The JV and varsity field hockey teams hit the field against Cheverus, at home, on Monday, September 30^th.

Varsity

Windham took a shot on goal almost immediately. The Lady Eagles had strong defense and kept Cheverus from scoring in the first half. The Lady Eagles blocked serval Cheverus passes throughout the half. Mya Bolk, #14, scored in the first three minutes. Windham had solid passing and moved the ball around nicely. Windham hustled hard and worked to be first to the ball. They were aggressive and took multiple shots on goal.

Half: 1-0, Windham

Windham continued their concrete defense in the second half. They blocked shots and passes from Cheverus. Windham took multiple shots on goal. With one minute thirty seconds left in the game, it was tied at one. 30 seconds...20 seconds...10 seconds; the pressure mounted, but at the buzzer the game headed into overtime.

Windham kept up the defense in overtime and the goalie, Molly McAllister, #33, had several great saves. The Lady Eagles pressured, and you felt the intensity in the air. At the end of overtime, neither team had scored.

Windham came out aggressive in the second overtime and worked hard to get the ball in the goal. With the clock winding down, Cheverus scored. Final 2-1.

“We’ve come a long way and they’re really good at communicating and reading where each other are going to be...and they’re working smarter, not harder, so they’re able to get it down the field,” commented coach Cory DiDonato. “There were some really good things: the passing, the talking, they support each other. I’m really proud of them.”

JV

JV started strong with great passing as they moved up and down the field. Windham communicated well and had good offense and defense. They pressured the Stags and worked hard to be first to the ball. At the end of the first half Hannah Heanssler, #6, scored.

Half: 1-0, Windham

The Lady Eagles really turned it up a notch in the second half. They were aggressive and were first to the ball. Heanssler scored again. Windham continued strong communication and tough defense, preventing Cheverus from scoring at all. Before the end of the game, Heanssler scored a third time.

Final: 3-0, Windham

“They played really well today,” observed coach Tiff Theriault. “It was better communication; it was passing more and those were the two main goals and they did it perfect. It was a fun win.”

Alpine Ski slalom improving rapidly

By Emily Atwood and Matt Pascarella

The alpine ski team competed against Kennebec, Cheverus, Gorham, Marshwood and Falmouth high schools in the slalom at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton on Friday, January 18.

The girls’ team has grown this year with nine racers, which makes for an energetic group, healthy in team competition. 

The girls’ team placed third out of six teams.

As one of the strongest racers, freshman Sarah Hare placed fourth overall and is someone to watch out for in the future. 

Team captain and senior Cordelia Inman had great energy at Friday’s competition and continued to keep the team motivated. In her fourth year, she placed 13^th.

Senior, Naomi Debrosse, placed 17th. She has been improving over the past two years.

First time racer and Senior, Miranda Lewis placed 22^nd. She has been consistently improving and is a strong addition to the team.

Second year racer Madelynn McGary placed 26^th.

Senior Avery Rolf placed 28th. She was a first-time racer last season and is consistently in the top thirty.

Senior and first-time racer, Riley Gardner, placed 33^rd and Freshman Lauren DeLuca placed 36^th.

There is a smaller boys’ team with three racers, so they are unable to place in races. Junior and consistent racer, Benjamin White placed 27^th, freshman and first-time racer, Ezra Smith placed 39^th, Junior, Owen Flibbert placed 41^st.

 “Overall it was a great race, the new racers are becoming more comfortable with gates, so their times have been improving with each meet,” observed coach Emily Atwood.