Raiders improve to 3-3 in hockey play

By Charlie Tryder

The Fryeburg Academy girls hockey team lost in Biddeford early in the week, but then rebounded to defeat Skowhegan at Bridgton Ice Arena on Saturday. At Biddeford, the Raiders fought a talented squad that has been defeating opponents by as many as 10 goals to a 4-2 score, and in another closely played game, the Raiders held off Skowhegan 3-2. The victory over Skowhegan left the Raiders at 3-3 on the season. On Saturday, the Raiders jumped out early against Skowhegan scoring a minute and 17 seconds into the game when Candace Thompson broke out of the Raider defensive end of the ice and found Macy Hall with a pass. Hall then skated wide and spread the defense and hit Kayla Mitchell with a pass in front of the goal. Mitchell beat the Skowhegan goalie and the Raiders led 1-0. The Raiders did not find the net again until 12 seconds into the third period, after Skowhegan tied the game 1-1 late in the second period. Hall once again flattened out the Skowhegan defense by carrying the puck deep into the Skowhegan defensive end and put the puck on Mitchells stick in front of the goal. She beat the Skowhegan goalie for her second score of the game, and the Raiders regained the lead 2-1.With 9:52 left in the game, the Raiders took a decisive 3-1 lead. Fryeburg's third goal came when the Nicole Watkins, Nicole Pelkie and Melissa Davenport line applied pressure and put several shots on the Skowhegan goalie. Davenport gathered a rebound while crashing the front of the net, and then snapped the puck into the goal for her first varsity goal.Skowhegan scored with 2:36 left to close the gap to a one goal game, but the Raiders held on behind Katrina Keatons outstanding goal tending. The Raiders also continued to receive solid fore checking and back checking from the entire squad.Although the Raiders lost earlier in the week to a powerful Biddeford Tiger team, Raider coach Doug Holmes lauded the effort, We played really well. The Biddeford team has beaten teams by scores of 10-2 and 12-1. Their parents and coaches said it was the first real game that they have had this year. Hall found ninth grade scoring-sensation Mitchell for both Fryeburg goals, but once again, Holmes praised the efforts of the entire team. He also wanted to give credit to his assistant coaches, Mark Lyons and Steve Blaser: Mark and Steve have been significant in helping the girls hone their skills. Mark works the defensive corps in practice and the defensive gate in games. Steve works with the forwards in practice and the forward gate in games. They have really brought the girls a long way.At 3-3, the Raiders are ready to enter a busy stretch of hockey. They will play seven games in January and five more in February. The run starts at Travis Roy Arena in Yarmouth on Saturday at 6:50 p.m.