AUBURN — Falmouth played its third boys’ hockey game in five days on Wednesday, yet head coach Deron Barton does not want his team taking much of a break, so he scheduled an exhibition game Saturday.

“We need games. We don’t need practices,” Barton said of his young team.

Falmouth showed its skill and its youth Wednesday in a 7-5 win over St. Dom’s at the Norway Savings Bank Arena. The Yachtsmen (2-1), led by Josh Noyes’ four goals and Chris Camelio’s four assists, proved they could move the puck. But they also could not put the game away.

Falmouth led 4-1 near the end of the first period, but three times the Saints (0-2) closed to within one goal. Noyes’ unassisted score – off a defenseman’s stick – at 13:28 of the third period gave the Yachtsmen a two-goal lead they could keep.

“That’s the sign of a young team when you give up leads you shouldn’t give up,” Barton said. “The only way you can prevent that with a team like this is playing them.

“The young guys have to see minutes and that’s what we’re doing.”

Advertisement

Noyes, a senior, is not as young, but he is new to the spotlight, not having seen much varsity time before this year. He scored Falmouth’s last four goals.

“He paid his dues,” Barton said. “I don’t think he scored four points last year. He’s really matured as a leader.”

It helps having two experienced juniors, Camelio and Henry Norris, on the same line.

“My linemates really helped me last summer since I hadn’t played a lot of minutes,” Noyes said. “I’d be nothing without them.”

Falmouth can score – from a 5-4 overtime loss to Cheverus last Saturday, to a 4-2 win at Bangor Monday, to this effort.

Norris had a goal and two assists. Twins Robbie and Reece Armitage each had a goal.

Advertisement

The Yachtsmen outshot St. Dom’s 31-27. Falmouth goalie Spencer Pierce made 22 saves, including some key stops in the third period.

“He made some incredible saves,” Barton said, adding that “four of those five goals (allowed) were defensive breakdowns.”

Those breakdowns kept allowing the Saints back into it.

When Camelio walked in and assisted Noyes at the goalmouth for Noyes’ first goal, the Yachtsmen led 4-1 with 28 seconds left in the first.

But St. Dom’s scored 16 seconds later. Midway through the second period, the Saints got a power-play goal to make it 4-3.

Later in the period, St. Dom’s Ryan Lutrzykowski (two goals) hit the crossbar.

Advertisement

“We just could not get that tying goal,” said St. Dom’s assistant coach Richard Paradis, whom head coach Rob Parker deferred all questions to.

“We had a few bad bounces. They go the other way and it’s a different game.”

Falmouth made it a two-goal lead again when Camelio won a faceoff and Noyes got to the puck.

“Chris hit it out and I just skated in front and slammed it as hard as I could,” Noyes said. “I think it went five-hole.”

Falmouth led 5-3 after two periods. The Saints would close to 5-4, and then 6-5, but the Yachtsmen held them off.

After its exhibition Saturday (against Acton-Boxborough of Massachusetts), Falmouth hosts Biddeford on Dec. 16. St. Dom’s is at Cony on Dec. 17.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.