LEWISTON — Every time Falmouth High kicked its attack into higher gear, Thornton Academy was ready Saturday night.
The Trojans used a stonewall defense to beat Falmouth 4-1 in a Western Class A boys’ hockey semifinal at the Colisee.
Second-seeded Thornton (17-2-1) will play top-ranked Biddeford in the regional final Tuesday night at the Colisee.
Trojans goalie Ricky Hebb made 22 saves and his defensemen were solid in front of him.
”Rick Hebb continues to play stellar,” Thornton Coach Shawn Rousseau said. ”When we’re able to play from the goalmouth out with that kind of performance, good performances from our defensemen and forwards follow.”
Thornton killed all five of the Yachtsmen’s penalties.
”That’s pretty spectacular against a power play like Falmouth’s,” Rousseau said. ”They’ve got a lot of guns and they set up nicely.”
Third-seeded Falmouth (13-5-2) took a 1-0 lead when Dan Hanley buried a shot from in front at 3:37 of the first. Brandon Morrill assisted.
The goal seemed to wake the Trojans. Their chances increased and at 6:56, they went on the game’s first power play.
The Trojans had traffic in front of the net and at 8:57, one second after the power play ended, Seth Prior scored from Brett Levasseur and Brandon Veilleux.
Thornton took a 2-1 lead minutes later. Tyler Danley sent in a shot. It was deflected in the air. Players began taking pokes at it. Nicholas Chen connected, scoring on a rebound at 11:16.
”That second goal,” lamented Falmouth Coach Scott Rousseau, brother of Shawn. ”We’re down 2-1 and chasing, and chasing, and chasing.”
The chase continued in the second period when Falmouth got three power plays.
Thornton’s defense held on, limiting the shots.
”We’ve got six solid defensemen who we roll out pretty consistently,” said Shawn Rousseau, referring to Michael Herlihy and Danley, Ryan Locke and Veilleux, and Bryan Dallaire and Jonathan Dupee.
”They’re disciplined and hard- working. We didn’t give up a lot of chances.”
In the third period, Falmouth kept coming. The Trojans squelched those chances, swatting away the puck or relying on Hebb.
Thornton finally countered to seal it. Sam Canales scored at 11:25 on a power play. Levasseur then scored 20 seconds later.
Now the Trojans will take on Biddeford, their York County rival.
Thornton and the Tigers split a pair of games this season, with the Trojans winning the latest meeting 5-3 on Feb. 3.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
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