BRUNSWICK – Gillian Ford sent a wrist shot through traffic and it reached the back of the net, giving Brunswick a 2-1 overtime victory against Winslow in an Eastern Maine girls’ hockey quarterfinal Thursday night at Bowdoin College’s Watson Arena.

Ford’s power-play goal came 1:05 into overtime.

Ashley Hartford also scored for the Dragons. Brunswick goalie Claire Mendes made 17 saves.

Fourth-seeded Brunswick (8-11) moves on to play top-seeded and defending state champion Greely (15-2-1) at 6:40 p.m. Saturday at Family Ice Center in Falmouth. Greely swept two games from the Dragons this season .

No. 5 Winslow is done at 5-11-3.

This was the third meeting between Brunswick and Winslow, but the first since Dec. 5. They split the season series, each game decided by one goal.

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Game No. 3 was just as much a nail-biter, even though Brunswick outshot the Raiders 30-18.

“We’ve always had more shots, but the games are always incredibly close,” Brunswick Coach Bill Bodwell said. “They have a great goalie.”

Winslow goalie Jessica Cain (30 saves) stopped several chances early as the Dragons applied pressure, with 14 shots in a scoreless first period.

Winslow scored quickly in the second period, with Miranda Gagne stuffing in a Jen Poulin shot at 1:19.

Cain kept making saves, but Brunswick kept attacking.

“It was anyone’s game,” Ford said. “She’s a great goalie. We had to get in front of the net and keep trying.”

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The Dragons’ efforts paid off near the end of the second period. Brunswick got the traffic it wanted outside the crease. Tessa Cassidy sent in a puck and several players battled for it. The puck bounced to Hartford and she poked it in, tying the game at 13:32.

Winslow’s Britany Whitaker had a breakaway early in the third period, but Mendes stopped her backhand shot.

Brunswick, led by Rachel Moroney and Eliza Brooks, kept producing chances. At the close of regulation, Moroney was tripped and the Dragons had a power play that extended into overtime.

In the extra period, Brunswick moved the puck around, with Brooks and Ford controlling the point. Brooks slid the puck over and Ford fired.

“She has the hardest shot on the team,” Bodwell said. “She got it off quick and kept it low.”

The Dragons now play Greely in a rematch of last year’s regional final, won by Greely. Brunswick went into this season rebuilding.

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“We lost a lot of people from last year and, to get this far, I’m so proud of my team,” said Ford, a senior. “Now we’re going against Greely again. It’s a great opportunity for the seniors to have one last shot.”

Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: KevinThomasPPH

 


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