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TwitterMurray leads Storm to finals
Monday, February 11, 2013
Special to the Press Herald
SACO — Kristen Murray does a lot for Scarborough`s chemistry. In fact, she can make it downright explosive.
Murray scored four goals, including three in the third period, to lead Scarborough to a 6-1 victory over Cheverus in a Western Class A girls` hockey semifinal Monday at MHG Ice Centre.
The top-seeded Red Storm (17-1-1) notched their first playoff victory to reach the regional final on Wednesday at Portland Ice Arena. They will host No. 2 York.
``This was massive,`` Scarborough Coach Caitlin Cashman said. ``It`s that mental game, `we lost in the first round the last three years, why wouldn`t it happen now?```
No. 5 Cheverus, which advanced with a 7-4 quarterfinal win over Biddeford, finished 6-13-1.
``We`ve come a long way,`` Cheverus Coach Amy McNally said.
``We scrimmaged Scarborough in preseason, and the difference in our play since then is night and day. I was happy with our effort and our focus tonight.``
Alyssa Hulst added a goal and four assists for Scarborough, and Sarah Martens had a goal and an assist.
But it was Murray`s turn to shine, playing in just her third game after missing seven weeks and eight games with a broken collarbone.
When Murray was hurt in a 2-2 tie against Greely on Dec. 22, Cashman said, ``our lines got all mixed up, and we had to find our chemistry all over again. She`s a tremendously skilled player and other players were trying really hard to fill her skates.``
With Murray back in the lineup, Cashman said, offensive balance is restored, giving the Red Storm two strong lines.
That was evident from the start. Scarborough outshot Cheverus 12-5 in the period, but freshman Taylor Courtois (37 saves) let in only Murray`s power-play goal at 1:33.
``It`s always a race to see who gets the first goal,`` Murray said. ``We got out there and took charge.``
Courtois, who wears No. 15 and is listed as a forward, stepped into the goal at midseason and on Monday performed admirably under mounting pressure.
``It`s a tough position to put a freshman in,`` McNally said. ``But Taylor has embraced it.``
Not that Scarborough wasn`t dealing with pressure of its own.
``Losing the past three years in the first round was devastating,`` Murray said. ``We didn`t want that to happen again, so we came out with a lot of fire.``
Katie Roy countered 23 seconds after Murray`s goal to tie the game 1-1 in the first period.
Roy, one of two seniors on a young Cheverus team, was relentless.
``In the playoffs, anything can happen,`` she said. ``Compared to our other games against them (both 10-1 losses), we really stepped up.``
Hulst scored unassisted to give Scarborough a 2-1 lead after two periods.
``The second period, we picked it up,`` said Scarborough goalie Devan Kane (12 saves). ``And the third period was just like, `Pow!```
In the third, Scarborough held the Stags to one shot on goal while peppering Courtois with 16.
Murray showed her skill at finishing, scoring on a breakaway (2:09) from the slot (2:30) and capping a two-on-none with Hulst (9:42). Martens made it 6-1 with 2:18 to play and the Red Storm`s jinx was lifted.
``We knew in the back of our heads,`` Kane said, ``that the only way curses are broken is if you stop believing in them.``
True. And a potent offense helps ease doubts as well.
