HALLOWELL — The formula for winning hockey has existed since the first puck dropped: score more goals than the other team.
And when you don’t allow any goals at all, as the Winslow/Gardiner/Cony/Messalonskee/Lawrence/Erskine/Maranacook/Mt. Blue girls hockey co-op is finding, winning games becomes infinitely easier.
Anchored by a 14-save shutout from senior netminder Emma Michaud, the Black Tigers skated to a 2-0 win over St. Dominic/Winthrop/Monmouth on Wednesday night at the Camden National Bank Ice Vault. The win was the fourth in the team’s last five outings as the Black Tigers (7-4-0) — who entered the night third in the state’s North region — try keeping pace atop the standings in the second half of the season.
It was also the second consecutive shutout victory for Winslow/Gardiner.
“It’s exciting,” Michaud said. “My first three years, I never really had this kind of team. We had some good teams, but we never really had that ‘click.’ Being able to connect with these girls, and being confident that they’re going to have my back and I’m going to have theirs makes it a lot easier.”
Kylie Boardman and Katie Berard each netted goals for the Black Tigers. St. Dom’s dropped to 4-9-0 overall, despite a 22-save night from Abrianna White.
“Obviously, Emma’s had two great games and our defense has played very well,” Winslow/Gardiner coach Bill Boardman said. “We’re limiting shots and limiting the stuff in front of the net.”
Winslow/Gardiner’s top line delivered the goods throughout the night. Berard, Boardman and Molly Hambrick kept the Saints hemmed in their zone for long stretches, particularly late in the second period as they began to wear down St. Dom’s thin roster.
Winslow/Gardiner/Cony/Messalonskee/Lawrence/Erskine/Maranacook/Mt. Blue’s Leah Michaud (6) and St. Dominic/Winthrop/Monmouth’s Gabby Allen (3) battle for the puck in the first period of a game Wednesday at the Ice Vault in Hallowell. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
Nursing a one-goal lead and doing little with an early second-period power play, the Black Tigers found some breathing room late in the frame. Berard’s shot from the left circle caromed off a defenseman in front and snuck inside the far post for a 2-0 lead at 13:01.
It was all the insurance Michaud would need.
“That’s a sigh of relief for me,” Michaud said. “At this point, I just try to stay loose. The more I think about (stopping shots), the tougher it gets.”
The home team opened the scoring at the 10:12 mark of the first period.
Berard broke up a play at the offensive blue line, and when her shot attempt was blocked wide in front, Boardman was camped at the right post to swat the puck home for the opening salvo.
Michaud was not tested often, although she was tested. Of the 14 Saints shots, nine of them were Grade A chances generated from between the faceoff dots.
Winslow/Gardiner/Cony/Messalonskee/Lawrence/Erskine/Maranacook/Mt. Blue’s Alexa Caccamo (3) and St. Dominic/Winthrop/Monmouth’s Aiva Dorman (8) battle for the puck in the first period of a game Wednesday at the Ice Vault in Hallowell. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
In the final minute of the second period, St. Dom’s Emily Andrews found herself behind the Black Tiger defense for a chance that forced Michaud to flash a pad at the left post to keep the Saints off the board.
In the third period, Michaud made point-blank stops on the Saints’ Maddie Weymouth and Bella Pelletier.
“She makes the first stop, and (the defense) are definitely doing their job on the second one,” Bill Boardman said. “We can count on Emma to make one. We can probably count on Emma to make three, but we’re trying not to let that happen anymore.”
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