FALMOUTH – The Falmouth High school girls’ ice hockey team did something last night no other team has been able to do to Barnstable High this year.
They beat them, 2-0.
As players fly from the bench and the coaches’ cheered, the Falmouth High girls pigpile on top of senior captain and goalie Maddie Scavotto after defeating Barnstable last night, 2-0, to take home the SEMGHAL Coastal championship title.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com sports
In front of a moderate but lively crowd last night at the Falmouth Ice Arena, in a game delayed 45 minutes because the referees did not arrive on time for the 5:20 pm start, the Falmouth High girls (13-3-2) squared off against the state’s top-ranked Red Raiders (11-1-4) and left them breathless and with their first loss of the season.
Senior captain and goaltender Madison Scavotto could be deemed one of if not the hero of the game as she turned away not one shot less than 32 while her freshman counterpart at the other end of the ice – the superlative Olivia Sollows — faced 21 shots on goal and allowed two to go through.
Truth-be-told, Falmouth received the only goal it would need with just 2.6 seconds remaining on the first period game clock. In a mad scrum in and around Sollows’ crease, Falmouth freshman phenom McKenzie Haberl slammed a loose puck past the usually stoic netminder (assisted by Maggie MacDonald) and in so doing literally snatched away any hope for the type of real momentum Barnstable needed to generate in this torrid, fast-paced, battle-for-all-battles.
Falmouth skated and passed as well as any team has all season on the Cape last night.
Penalties plagued the Red Raiders throughout the night and with the Clippers playing just two shifts – as appeared to the case – every time Barnstable was shorthanded, Falmouth’s best ladies were on the ice.
Eventually, though, both teams were nabbed for six infractions apiece.
But the two or three times Barnstable had five players on the ice in contrast to Falmouth’s three or four, the opportunities to tie it up were there. Barnstable just could not capitalize and in like fashion, Scavotto could not be phased between the pipes.
“Maddi Scavotto was outstanding in net tonight,” Clipper head coach Erin Hunt said. “It was a great win for Falmouth.” It’s nice to bring the league championship back to town.”
Falmouth’s Callan Small (21) and Kelley Ferreira (3) chase after Barnstable’s Amanda Picknick in last night’s 2-0 Clipper victory.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com sports
Following a scoreless second period that saw more than a few exceptional hits take their toll on the visiting Red Raiders, Falmouth senior assistant captain Kelly Ferreira put the icing on the cake with 8:10 to go in the third period (assisted by McKenzie Haberl). The 2-0 lead would hold through the frantic last eight minutes or so of the game and the Clippers were crowned champs.
“It’s nice to bring the league championship back to town,” Hunt said.
While Barnstable defeated Falmouth earlier in the season, the Red Raiders’ early season tie with Duxbury proved the deciding factor in the league title war. Falmouth beat Duxbury twice this year and by beating Barnstable last night, was crowned SEMGHL Coastal champs.
The Clippers face Wellesley – weather permitting – tomorrow at 6:00 pm in the Cape Cod Classic Tournament being hosted by, well, Falmouth.
Barnstable has four regular season games left, starting tomorrow at 2:05 against LaSalle Academy (Rhode Island) at 2:05 pm as part of the Cape Cod Classic.
Following Falmouth’s victory, both teams honored the U19 Cape Cod Storm National Champion girls’ ice hockey team by hoisting the championship banner among the gallery of state and league title banners.
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
Falmouth senior captain and goalie extraordinaire Maddie Scavotto was brilliant in net last night, making 32 saves.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
Falmouth goalie Maddie Scavotto is swarmed by teammates at the end of the game.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
The U19 Cape Cod Storm girls’ ice hockey Tier 2 National Champions were feted after last night’s 2-0 Falmouth win. The team included a host of players from both Barnstable and Falmouth High.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
