Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HOCKEY: Dexter sparks Eagles to victory

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

WINSLOW -- It wasn't its best game of the season but the Messalonskee High School hockey team kept chugging toward the playoffs Saturday with another convincing victory.

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STOPPED: Lawrence goalie Kyle McLain makes a save as Houlton/Hodgdon’s Alex Casillas, right, tries to get the puck in the first period Saturday at Sukee Arena in Winslow.

Photo by Michael G. Seamans

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Sam Dexter scored two goals and an assist as Messalonskee cruised past John Bapst 4-1 in an Eastern B game Saturday night at Sukee Arena.

Chase Cunningham scored a goal and two assists for the Eagles (12-2-0), who pushed their winning streak to three games since losing to Brewer on Jan. 28.

The Eagles opened a 3-0 lead before the Crusaders (7-7-0) finally scored on an Alex LaFrance goal late in the first period.

Houlton/Hodgdon 6, Lawrence 4: Lawrence coach Dave Richard said the effort is there and so, too, is the improvement.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, neither added up to a victory in a game between two teams on the outside looking in of the Eastern B playoff race.

"We've made wicked improvement," said Richard, whose team couldn't hold a 3-1 second-period lead.

"We're just not winning the games."

The teams were tied 4-4 after two periods before James Fitzpatrick scored his second goal of the game midway through the third to give Houlton/Hodgdon (4-9-1) the lead for good. Sam Fitzpatrick added an empty net goal to cap the scoring.

"It stinks to lose but we kept battling," said Lawrence forward Jordan Nutting, who scored a goal and two assists.

Tyler Boudreau scored two goals while Christian and Andrew Carpenter each had a pair of assists for Lawrence (2-9-1).

The Bulldogs led 3-1 when Boudreau scored his second goal of the game just a minute into the second period. However, Lawrence then allowed three unanswered goals -- including a short-handed one -- to fall behind 4-3 with just under six minutes left in the second period.

The Bulldogs again fought back.

With 1:44 left in the second period, Nutting banged home a rebound off a Christian Carpenter shot to pull the Bulldogs even at 4-4.

"We did a good job of getting back," Richard said.

Houlton/Hodgdon opened up a 1-0 lead when Sam Fitzpatrick beat Kyle McLain with a low shot from out front with 9:19 left in the first period.

The Bulldogs finally broke through with a pair of goals just 46 seconds apart.

Boudreau evened the game at 1-1 when he came in through the right circle, took a nice pass from Nutting, and then lofted a high shot over the right shoulder Houlton/Hodgdon Payton Porter with 4:03 left in the period.