Defensively the Saints (1-0) allowed just five shots out of their sagging man-to-man defense, forcing numerous turnovers with goalkeeper Alex Michaud collecting four saves in net. Playing in front of Michaud, providing plenty of support were defenders Keenan Lynch, Rick Lacombe, Brendan Hanlon, Matt Curtis and at long stick middie Ben Trytek.
“It’s really nice to have Alex back in the goal,” St. Dom’s coach Jamie King said. “We were able to build some nice rhythm on defense to control the game.”
Mt. Blue (0-2) continued to have problems on attack, where the Cougars were limited in their ability to create a flow to the game, especially around the crease.
“We’re looking for someone to step up and take over the offensive role,” Mt. Blue coach Kevin Averill said. “It has been a real problem for us so far this year.”
Defensively the Cougars were solid, laying back in front of the goal in a tightly knit zone that forced the Saints to launch shots from the perimeter during the initial stages of the first quarter. St. Dom’s fired 14 shots on the Mt. Blue goal in the opening quarter, eventually breaking through in the final minutes.
“We are coming along defensively,” Averill said. “We are learning on the fly and starting to understand the zone, forcing shots from the outside.”
Cooper Richard found an opening with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter, firing a low shot from the right side, giving St. Dom’s a 1-0 advantage. Forty seconds later teammate Ridge Servidio grabbed a rebound, in front of the Mt. Blue net, and tucking it away in the corner for a 2-0 lead.
Servidio improved the Saints lead to 3-0 in the second quarter, bouncing in a long shot from the right side with 3:07 left in the half.
Dominating time of possession St. Dom’s carried play for most of the second half, scoring a goal in each quarter for the final 5-0 decision.
“We did a lot of good things on the field today,” King said. “We moved the ball in attack. It was good to see that part of our game coming together.”
Mt. Blue goalkeepers faced 39 St. Dom’s shots. Leo Flannery made eight saves in the first half for the Cougars, with Alex Gilbert stopping six in the second half.
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