The rink was packed, the fans were rowdy, and two teams with a firm, on-ice dislike for each other were ready to do battle. Despite three losses at the end of the regular season, the Clippers came out flying and played their best game of the season. However, Yarmouth ultimately came up short. An erroneous ruling by both the referees and the goal judge on Cape’s game-winning goal will likely stoke this rivalry in the future. Bigger games than this one have been decided on missed calls, but it will surely add some additional emotion to the Yarmouth-Cape rivalry.
The opening period was a struggle as Yarmouth was forced to kill off a series of penalties, but Charles Henry Watson ’22 continually came up with big saves to keep the game scoreless. Watson’s play has been stellar all season, but he saved his best performance for last in a strong effort.
In the second period, the physicality ramped up, the barn was buzzing, and it was Yarmouth’s turn for a few power play opportunities. However, despite out-shooting Cape 6-5, the Clippers were unable to find the back of net as Cape’s Garrett Mello denied Sam Marjerison ’19 and Matt Sanborn ’19 on power play bids. The teams entered the third period locked in a scoreless tie.
In the final stanza, Cape finally broke the tie when Gavin Simopoulos scored what appeared to be a highlight-reel goal with 7:26 remaining in the game. However, video replay showed that the puck hit the cross-bar and post, but clearly never crossed the goal line. However, the goal judge and referees missed the call and Cape took a 1-0 lead.
In their search for the tying goal, the Clippers had a number of good opportunities, but could not convert as Will Giese ’20 had a shot sail wide and Matt Sanborn had a quality scoring opportunity turned aside.
In the closing minutes, Marjerison set up Aidan Miller ’20 in the slot, but the Cape netminder came up with a big save. In the final seconds, Cape put the game away with a power play goal.
For complete coverage, please click on The Forecaster and Portland Press Herald articles.
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Senior Captains Kurt Heywood and Sam Marjerison along with fellow seniors Matt Sanborn, Michael Guertler, Alec Morton, Joe Wilson, Shepard Shutkin, and Emmett Herr played their final game for the Clippers.
Yarmouth Hockey 