Sports Editor
WINSLOW — It is back to the Eastern Class B championship game for the Presque Isle hockey team after the No. 3 Wildcats upset No. 2 Winslow 3-2 Saturday evening at the Sukee Arena.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
BLASTED — Taking a blow to the head on this play is Presque Isle’s Isaac Lajoie, right, as Winslow’s Erik Cawley drives his forearm into Lajoie. Cawley was penalized for interfence on the play. Presque Isle won 3-2.
Presque Isle (15-4 overall) faced off against No. 1 Brewer (17-1-1) Tuesday evening for the regional crown.
“This is the game we wanted to get to and we are going to do everything we can to beat them [Brewer],” Presque Isle coach Carl Flynn said.
Playing in front of a large crowd of Wildcat faithful, Saturday’s game almost had the feel of a home game as the Presque Isle fans equaled, if not rivaled, those from Winslow. The Wildcats have had Winslow’s number in recent years, and Saturday’s game was no exception. Presque Isle came out gunning in the first period, sending numerous shots at Winslow goalie Jesse Little.
“I really thought we would come out flying and we did,” coach Flynn said. “We were running on a lot of adrenaline. We had a great first period.”
That’s putting it mildly. The Wildcats dominated the first period, outshooting Winslow 19-5, but only had a 1-0 lead to show for it. Steve Ford broke the scoring ice when he intercepted a pass from Jason Martin, off a through pass by Brennen Shaw with 14:40 to play in the first period that found the back of the net.
The Wildcats had numerous other scoring chances in the first period, but Little proved up to the challenge, keeping it a 1-0 contest.
In the second period, the Wildcats changed things up a bit and became more aggressive in their quest for a second goal, which hurt them, according to their coach.
“The second period we tried to push it a little too much,” Flynn said. “Our defense was trying to create offense, but instead it created turnovers and gave them [Winslow] scoring opportunities. We just kind of got off our game plan a little bit.”
Winslow managed to tie the game at 1-1 when Black Raider Eric Willette scored on a pass from Dalton Thompson with 6:27 remaining in the second period. Winslow out shot Presque Isle 13-4 in that period.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
SUCCESS — Presque Isle’s Brennen Shaw, right, gets hugged by teammate Isaac LaJoie after Shaw scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal Saturday evening in Winslow.
“Going out in the third period, I told the guys to play good defense and force them to try and score the goal to win it,” Flynn said. “And once they made that drastic tactic, I figured it would create an opportunity for us to score. I felt if we could out last them, we could score more goals than them.”
Caleb Buck gave Presque Isle a 2-1 lead when he scored with five minutes into the third period. Buck’s goal was set up on passes by Zac Campbell and Steve Ford.
The Raiders tied the game at 2-2 when Todd Brow scored off a pass from Charles Kriegel.
Winslow had an excellent short-handed scoring opportunity in the third period that hit the post, and from that point forward, the Raiders appeared deflated. The Wildcats went down 20 seconds later and scored.
Shaw’s 98th career goal turned out to be the game-winner for Presque Isle. Shaw scored with 11:11 remaining in the third period with an assist by Campbell for a 3-1 lead.
“It was a pass out front, and it really wasn’t on Brennen’s stick,” Flynn said. “He just made a stab at it with one hand and redirected it past the goalie’s legs. That’s how you beat that goalie. Jesse Little is a phenomenal goalie and the only way to beat him is to screen him and tip some shots.”
“I think when they went down and had that scoring opportunity and didn’t, that took the wind out of their sails,” Flynn said. “I really thought when we went up 2-1 we had it. But we had a tactical error that allowed them to get that goal.”
Wildcat goalie Josh MacFarline had 25 saves on 27 shots, while Little had 34 saves on 37 shots for Winslow. Presque Isle was whistled for four penalties totaling eight minutes, while Winslow had six penalties for 12 minutes.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
ON THE PROWL — Wildcat Jason Martin, middle, crashes into Winslow’s Charles Kriegel in front of the net during Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class B semifinal, won by Presque Isle, 3-2.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
CELEBRATION — The Presque Isle hockey team swarms the ice after Saturday night’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Winslow at the Sukee Arena in Winslow. The win propelled the No. 3 Wildcats to the Eastern Class B championship Tuesday evening in Orono against No. 1 Brewer.
