LEWISTON – The York High girls’ hockey team enjoyed their most successful season by playing a tight, aggressive defense while also creating several scoring chances.
Against the talent-laden team of St. Dominic, the Wildcats’ defense had trouble with containment, while the scoring opportunities were few.
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St. Dom’s fulfilled the preseason predictions of its dominance by beating York 6-1 for the girls’ hockey state championship Saturday night at the Colisee.
Lauren Ratsep recorded a hat trick and an assist. Marisa Zamrock scored twice and Kayla McLellan had a goal and two assists.
The Saints’ defense was again led by defenseman Sophie Goulet, while Nicole Keaney was solid in goal with 17 saves,
York (15-4-2) was outshot 29-18, but did manage a goal by Nicci Heroux that made it 5-1 midway through the third period.
St. Dom’s (20-1) was stellar on special teams with two power-play goals and a short-hander.
“We knew we had an uphill battle against this team,” York Coach Kevin Banfield said. “They played a better game and were more disciplined than we were.”
York, as it has done with other teams, shadowed the opponent’s top scorer; in this case, Zamrock.
“We knew they would,” St. Dom’s Coach Don Boucher said. “She created traffic and opened up the other girls.”
But Zamrock got free on occasion and she showcased one of the best shots in the state.
In the first period, York looked like it had a chance when Hannah Keating stole the puck at her blue line. But the puck got away from her.
“I tipped it too far ahead of me and it went sailing,” Keating said.
St. Dom’s immediately countered with Zamrock leading a 2-on-1 charge. With her teammate covered, Zamrock fired far post and found the net at 6:39.
On the Saints’ second power play, they found room to roam. McLellan crossed to Ratsep in the slot and she stuffed in it at 12:00.
The Wildcats had only one shot in the first period until they got a power play for the last two minutes. They got off three more shots, including solid efforts by Sammy Stocks and Heroux, but Keaney was in position.
York could not stay out of the box in the second period, and St. Dom’s found itself with a 5-on-3 power play. Goulet launched a slap shot off the boards. Ratsep swatted in the rebound at 6:06 for a 3-0 lead.
York got its best chance 90 seconds later with its own 5-on-3. Not only were Goulet and Ratsep in the box, but so was Zamrock on a matching penalty — the Saints’ best three players.
Heroux had a point-blank shot, but Keaney was right there for it. The Saints’ penalty kill prevailed.
Zamrock’s second goal at 13:10 made it 4-0. When McLellan began the third period with a wraparound goal at 2:02, it was 5-0 and the outcome no longer a question.
“They had too many weapons, too many good players,” Banfield said.
York got on the board when Heroux scored in traffic, from the slot at 6:35 with assists by Sammy and Tori Stocks. Ratsep countered with a short-handed score at 9:24.
Keating had one more chance in the closing seconds on a breakaway but was stopped.
“We have nothing to be ashamed of,” Keating said. “We came here ready to play, and we played our hardest.”
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald
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