Cheverus completes stunning comeback

Cheverus High School completed an improbable comeback as the fourth-ranked Stags overcame a four-goal deficit to defeat fifth-ranked Biddeford High School with a 6-5 overtime victory in a Class A South quarterfinal matchup Monday afternoon at Troubh Ice Arena in Portland.

Michael Hatch tallied two goals including the game-winning goal in overtime to advance Cheverus (9-9-1) to the Class A South semifinals on Saturday against the winner of No. 1 seeded Scarborough and No. 8 Massabesic/Bonny Eagle/Old Orchard Beach.

Biddeford ends its season at 8-11.

With 8:28 left in the third period, Sean Walsh tied the game at 5-5 for Cheverus less than two minutes after Joe Anders put the Tigers back in front by a goal.

Biddeford was called for a penalty with 24 seconds left in regulation, sending the momentum-laden Stags to the power play in overtime. The Tigers killed the penalty, but Dylan Demers was whistled for boarding senior captain Luke Trickey and was given a five-minute major with 6:27 remaining in overtime.

The Stages only needed five seconds.

Hatch ripped a shot from the blueline, beating Biddeford netminder Tom Green through a screen for the game-winning goal just 1:38 into overtime.

Chris Vallee was credited with an assist on the play as he fed the puck to Jesse Pierce, who found Hatch at the point.

Biddeford jumped out to 2-0 lead after one period of play on goals from Rick Ruck and Curtis Petit.

Mike Reissfelder tallied an unassisted goal at the 5:08 mark of the second period, followed by Petit with his second goal of the game just over a minute later to lift the Tigers to a commanding 4-0 lead.

That would end the day for Cheverus’ sophomore goalie Jason Halvorsen (seven saves) as sophomore Colby Benway took over tending duties in goal for the Stags.

Cheverus responded only 58 seconds later as Valle recorded the first of his two goals on the day. Vallee had a five-point afternoon, posting a pair of goals and three assists.

Vallee capped off his second goal with five minutes left in the second period to pull Cheverus within a goal.

Benway finished with 12 saves for Cheverus in the victory. Green stopped 20 of 26 shots he faced for the Tigers.

Cheverus went 2-for-6 on the power play, Biddeford went 0-for-2.

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