SACO — They are the two best girls’ hockey teams in the South, and they are evenly matched. On Friday night, Scarborough was just a little bit better, beating the Falmouth Yachtsmen 3-2 in overtime at MHG Ice Centre.
Sami Shoebottom, whose goal tied the game with 47 seconds left in regulation, won it with a laser just under the crossbar with 1:13 remaining in overtime. Lauren Topchik scored the other Scarborough goal, assisted by Shoebottom, and McKenzie Cormier made 18 saves, including three clutch ones in the overtime.
Scarborough (14-0-1) remains undefeated and is on track for the South’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which begin in less than two weeks. Falmouth dropped to 11-2-2. The Yachtsmen’s only other loss was to undefeated Greely, a team Scarborough plays Wednesday.
This was the second meeting between Falmouth and Scarborough, the first being a 2-2 tie in the opener.
“It’s always a tough game with Scarborough,” Falmouth Coach Rob Carrier said. “It was a real exciting game. It’s why you coach, why you play, why you come see the game.
“We skated hard for two periods and we lost a little steam in the third.”
Falmouth took a 2-0 lead after two periods on a pair of Devon Sarazin goals. Her linemates, Sarah Hutcheon and Abigail Lebel, assisted on each score.
Falmouth’s other top line of Camden Carrier, Marcy Kittredge and Evie Clement was also effective, keeping pressure on Scarborough.
“For the most part, those lines have been together the last two seasons. They work really well together,” Carrier said.
Falmouth outshot Scarborough 20-19 and had several more chances, but Scarborough’s defense pairings of Grace Murphy and Ellie Smith and Lily Nygren and Courtney Brochu were pesky all night, knocking away pucks.
Falmouth broke through at 13:43 of the first period. After two shots, Sarazin was there for the rebound.
In the second period, Sarazin one-timed a pass from Hutcheon for a 2-0 lead.
“We got outworked in the second period,” Scarborough Coach Caitlin D’Amour said. “We told the girls ‘you can’t get rattled. They’re really aggressive. They cycle really well, so just play your position and settle down.’ ”
After Topchik scored on a power play at 3:09, converting the rebound of a Shoebottom shot, the Red Storm kept coming. Shoebottom’s rebound goal tied it.
“We just crashed the net,” said Shoebottom, who drew a crowd of defenders all night. “I knew going into the game it was not going to be easy. Playing against teams like Falmouth, I feed off that. It makes me a better hockey player.”
Falmouth came out strong in overtime. Hutcheon broke in alone and Carrier had two good chances, but Cormier stopped them all.
“McKenzie doesn’t get easily rattled,” D’Amour said. “When we have a goalie who is confident and calm, it resonates through the entire team.”
Late in overtime, Falmouth tried to clear the puck but it went right to Shoebottom’s stick and she fired in the winner. “Right place, right time,” she said.
“When a player has that type of skill, you can’t give her that opportunity,” Carrier said.
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