PORTLAND — The Cheverus/Kennebunk girls hockey team cruised to a 7-0 record to start the season, but dropped a tough game to Portland over the weekend.

Things got off to another rough start on Wednesday, as visiting Cape Elizabeth/South Portland/Waynflete jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. However, the Stags would storm back in the final two periods to post six unanswered goals and pick up the 6-2 win.

“We just had two big breakdowns. The team knew we were still in the game and we had to keep our composure and keep the energy our energy up … once we got one they were just going to keep coming,” said Cheverus/Kennebunk’s Abby Lamontagne, who scored two goals and had an assist for the Stags.

Lucia Pompeo would break away and score at the 9:12 mark in the second period to get the Stags on the board. Lamontagne would later score the game-tying goal, followed by the go-ahead goal in the final three minutes to give the Stags the 3-2 edge heading into the third period.

Cheverus/Kennebunk continued to roll, and got goals from Emma McCauley, Sophia Pompeo and Abby Enck to secure the win.

Sophia Venditti put the Capers ahead 1-0 midway through the first while Nicoletta Coupe added a score minutes later.

McCauley recorded two assists for the Stags while Sophia Pompeo added another in the win.

Cheverus/Kennebunk coach Scott Rousseau felt that the difference between the first period and the next two was the Stags getting back to the basics, and staying calm.

“(It was) a couple of breakdowns. I didn’t think we played bad but they had two chances and they both ended up in the back of our net. I thought the girls did a really good job of not panicking, staying with it and understanding that it’s a 45-minute game,” said Rousseau. “We just had to get back to our identity which was winning puck battles and we did.”

Rousseau was also pleased in his team’s effort down the stretch, and was happy to see the Stags get a win against another playoff-bound club.

“We got into a run there where we were pushed a little bit, I think we got into some lazy habits. If you’re going to win playoff hockey and you’re going to win against good teams, and Cape is a good team, you have to be patient. You win the game over the course of 45 minutes, wearing down opponents, creating scoring chance after scoring chance. Eventually the odds paid off,” said Rousseau.

Lamontagne was also happy to break out of a recent skid and come through for the team.

“I know for me personally this was a big game because I’ve just been in a slump where I haven’t been on my game. I just had to get into my rhythm, like coach keeps saying, ‘I’m being too cute, I’m looking for the perfect goals.’ My goals today were (from) just getting to the net hard and my teammates winning battles along the wall and setting me up with great opportunities,” said Lamontagne.

Lamontagne felt that Wednesday’s bounce-back win will send a message to the conference about the Stags’ resiliency.

“We definitely had a target on our backs. We were the team to beat and Portland played a great game. We didn’t make (physical) mistakes, we made mental mistakes,” said Lamontagne. “The six goals shows a lot of character in our team after the two-goal deficit. Maybe teams will be aware that we don’t give up.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.