LEWISTON — The last time Lewiston High School and Scarborough met, both teams were playing for a state title.
On Monday, nearly a calendar year later, the Blue Devils and Red Storm met again at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Though the stakes weren’t as high as their last meeting, the mutual animosity — and level talent pool — was apparent.
Lewiston and Scarborough skated to a 3-3 tie Monday, with each team retaining the top position in their respective divisions.
Scarborough goaltender Lucca Sterrer saved Lauren DeBlois’ shot from the point as time expired in overtime to preserve the deadlock for the Red Storm.
“We didn’t come prepared to play,” Lewiston coach Ron Dumont said. “Scarborough’s a real good team. They work really hard, but we didn’t play very well. I’m not very happy. That’s not everyone across the board. I thought Paige (Fontaine) played well, the defense was hanging in there.”
Lewiston (14-0-1) took a 1-0 lead into the third period on a backhander by Erin Hubbard late in the opening frame.
The scoring picked up in the third period.
The final period of regulation featured five goals and three ties. Scarborough’s Sami Shoebottom scored her team’s first and last goals. Her first was off a rebound, knocking in a loose puck to the right of Fontaine.
While Lewiston has a similar roster to last year’s, Scarborough does not.
“I only have five or six returners from last year and 18 underclassmen,” Scarborough coach Caitlin Cashman said. “For my returners, this is a lot for them. Lewiston’s a good team. It was a confidence booster for sure.”
Lewiston found itself on the wrong end of an extended 5-on-3 power play, but still managed to score. Erica Lemieux gave Lewiston a 2-1 lead with 9:10 left in regulation, beating Sterrer five-hole with a blast from the blue line.
The Red Storm (10-3-1) came back 12 seconds later as Kristen Murray netted the equalizer with a shot from the high slot. Murray’s goal was answered by the Blue Devils second short-handed goal 42 seconds later as Allison Frechette one-timed a centering pass in front from Lemieux along the far boards.
Shoebottom forced overtime with 2:47 remaining. She took the puck from behind the Lewiston net, circled around and stuffed home a shot.
“We can stick with any team,” Shoebottom said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re undefeated or whatever. It was intense and we fed off of our mojo and it paid off.”
It was the first time this season the Blue Devils had allowed three goals in a period since playing Greely on Dec. 5.
“To me, one word sums it up: lackadaisical,” Dumont said. “There was no urgency there, which worries me. That either tells you that you’re not interested or you’re going into shock because of what’s going on. Either one’s not very good.”
Overtime yielded seven shots — four for Scarborough — but no winner. The Red Storm held a 30-26 edge in shots.
While Lewiston was less than satisfied with the tie, the Red Storm were happy to take it.
“It’s always nice to get the win, but with Lewiston being as good as they are, you have to take what you can get,” Shoebottom said. “It’s a good eye-opener for us, good confidence booster for us. It shows them they can’t just come walk all over us.”
Fontaine finished with 27 saves, while Sterrer made 23 stops.
With the playoffs right around the corner, the Blue Devils hope to build from Monday’s draw.
“I think this was good for us,” Hubbard said. “I think we need to come prepared to every game.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
