AUBURN — The Scarborough High girls’ hockey team had to travel farther for its “home” game, but the Red Storm enjoyed the ride home Tuesday night following a 2-1 victory against Falmouth in Auburn.

Lucy Bogdanovich scored on a rebound for a power-play goal with 3:14 left for the winner.

“We’re 45 minutes away (from Scarborough) but what are you going to do?” said Coach Caitlin Cashman about the Red Storm’s constant search for a place to play. They usually skate in Saco.

Scarborough (9-2) took the lead in the West. Falmouth dropped to 7-3.

While the East is more dominant this year with Lewiston (11-0), Edward Little/Leavitt (10-1) and Greely (9-2), only one can reach the state final against the West champion – likely Scarborough or Falmouth.

“Programs like Greely, Lewiston and Leavitt have always been up there,” Cashman said. “Hopefully one of us in the West can shake it up a little bit.”

Scarborough, the defending state champ, has a good chance as its younger players mature. The Red Storm feature only three seniors and one junior.

“We have 10 freshmen (and 10 sophomores),” Cashman said. “I tell them we can’t use our age as an excuse. You got to go out there and play with the big girls. And they did that tonight. They stayed composed.”

Falmouth took a 1-0 first-period lead on a power-play goal from Sarah Hutcheon from Abby Lebel at 8:06. But Scarborough sophomore goalie Lucca Sterrer was a stone wall after that.

“Lucca is a really, really strong kid. Nothing fazes her,” Cashman said.

Falmouth goalie Ally Hurdman also played solid but Scarborough tied it in the second period.

Freshman defenseman Ellie Smith sent in a puck, which deflected off Megan Doak’s stick right to Sami Shoebottom.

Shoebottom, an All-Star forward, had been covered tightly by the Yachtsmen but took advantage of her chance and scored on the open net at 9:36.

Falmouth took over at the start of the third period but couldn’t convert.

“We had our chances. Not capitalizing has been the tale of our season,” Coach Rob Carrier said. “Games that we’ve lost, we’ve let those bounces go the other way.”

Scarborough got its break after consecutive Falmouth penalties gave the Red Storm a five-on-three advantage. As the first penalty expired, Bogdanovich, a freshman, scored.

The Red Storm killed off a penalty (six-on-four with the goalie pulled) to end the game.

The teams meet again Jan. 28.

“We meet at least once more,” Carrier said, referring to a possible postseason matchup. “It’s been a bit of an uneven ride for us so far. Hopefully over the next 3½ weeks we can straighten it out a little bit.

“We’re a playoff team. We know that. We’re going to be in there. But we haven’t had that win to make us (believe) we can advance (far) in the playoffs.”

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