LEWISTON – Second-seeded Falmouth broke open a tight game by scoring four goals in the final six minutes of a Western Class A boys’ hockey semifinal Saturday night.
The Yachtsmen skated to a 6-3 victory against third-seeded Gorham at the Colisee to reach the regional final for a second consecutive season.
Falmouth will play No. 1 Scarborough Tuesday at the Colisee.
A defensive game turned into a late shootout.
“I tried to slow down their first line because they have a lot of talented players,” Gorham Coach Jon Portwine said. “But if you slow down their first line then their second line is going to come at you, and if you slow that line down, their third line is going to come at you.
“There’s no stopping Falmouth. They’re deep. They’re strong. They’re big. They’re fast. We did the best we could tonight and Falmouth just got the best of us.”
Justin Broy kept the Rams close, stopping 25 shots before the Yachtsmen went on their binge.
“We were getting a little frustrated because we were hammering them with shots,” said Hugh Grygiel of Falmouth. “Obviously he did a good job keeping them out of the net, but once you get one the floodgates open.”
Grygiel completed a hat trick in a 3-minute, 10-second span to propel the Yachtsmen into a 5-2 lead.
Falmouth (16-3-1) held a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Gorham opened the scoring six minutes in when Jared Wood popped in a goal after Nick Mansir won a faceoff in the left circle.
Isac Nordstrom made it 1-1, and then the Yachtsmen took the lead when Jack Grade finished off a rush down the slot.
“We’ve got a really balanced three-line rotation going, and it’s nice to get some goals out of those guys,” Grygiel said. “Isac Nordstrom and Jake Grade are playing huge for us, and you don’t always seem them on the score sheet.”
Michael Chapin and Wood scored third-period goals for Gorham. Falmouth’s Kris Samaras had an empty-net goal.
“We didn’t go away, and that’s testament to the guys who are in (our) locker room,” Portwine said. “It’s been like that all year.”
“(Gorham) didn’t quit and it was an excellent effort on their part,” Falmouth Coach Deron Barton said.”
Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com
Twitter: PaulBetitPPH
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