Gorham, ME – The Gorham Rams and the Westbrook Blue Blazes faced off tonight for their second meeting of the season at the USM Ice Arena in Gorham, and despite a hard fought battle by the Blue Blazes, the Rams emerged victorious again with a 4-1 win, coming out on top in both of the regular season match ups between the two teams.

Gorham erupted for a three goal flurry in the second period, and that proved to be the deciding factor in an otherwise evenly matched game.

“I think that we came out emotionally charged tonight and that’s what we needed to do,” said Westbrook head coach Casey Cox. “Unfortunately I think we unraveled a little bit for a short amount of time and that quick loss of composure really hurt us. You can’t do that against a team like that, they have too much talent. They’re too good to lose your composure against them like that, and I think they showed why.”

The second period started with the two teams tied 1-1 and Westbrook shorthanded for 47 seconds. Gorham was unable to capitalize on the power play, and killing the penalty off breathed some fire into the Blue Blazes, who began to turn the momentum in their favor. After some good chances, however, they took another penalty, and Gorham didn’t let this opportunity pass them by.

Nine seconds into the power play, sophomore forward Shawn Sullivan unleashed a slap shot from the point that would prove to be the game winner, putting the Rams up 2-1 at 8:55.

“Nate Goodrich made a good pass to me to the point and I just took a slapshot, and there was a good screen out front and it went in,” said Sullivan.

“I was playing the point. I’ve grown up playing the point so I’m used to it. Coach put me on there (for the power play) and I was thankful to get that goal.”

Gorham rushed the puck back in off the face off and netted another just eight seconds later. Spence Cowand let loose a wrist shot to beat the glove of Westbrook’s Ricky Henward at 9:03, making it 3-1 for the Rams. Blake Babineau picked up an assist.

Chris Hardy then went in to make it 4-1 at 9:46, for Gorham’s third goal in under a minute. A quick stick fake was just enough to throw Henward off and Hardy snuck it in past his blocker, assisted by Cowand.
Cowand and Hardy are currently tied as the leading goal scorers for the Rams, moving to eleven goals apiece this season after tonight’s tallies.

Gorham got the jump offensively in the opening period with a goal from Zach Schmidt on his first Varsity shift at 9:39.

“The puck just kind of trickled back to me,” said Schmidt. “It deflected off somebody and bounced back to me and I just took the shot. It deflected off the goalie and went right behind him.”

“I was definitely excited for that goal.”

“I just brought him up (to Varsity),” said Gorham head coach Jon Portwine. “First varsity goal, first varsity game, first varsity shift. I’m proud of him.”

Westbrook answered back on the power play with a shot from the point by Brad Perry at 13:33 to tie things at up 1-1 after the first period. Jacob Webster assisted on the play. The Blue Blazes continued to skate strong, but the three goal snap in the second period sealed the deal for the Rams, pushing them to the 4-1 victory.

“I wasn’t sure if we were ever gonna bury it,” said Portwine. “I thought Ricky (Henward) played really well tonight… Westbrook looks like they’ve improved since the last time we played them, they were tough tonight.”

“For us personally, I think we’ve been working really hard,” said Cox. “We’ve said it all year; the kids are getting better every day they step on the ice. As long as they continue to get better and continue to do the things we’re asking them to do, I think you’re gonna continue to see the improvement. We’re young, we’re learning a lot, and I think tonight was a good learning experience as to why you need to go out and play forty five minutes of hockey.”

With tonight’s win, the Rams improve to just shy of the .500 mark with a 5-6 record, while the Blue Blazes fall to 3-8 on the season.