After the previous overtime thriller with Cape, fans expected an exciting final game of the season and they were not disappointed. Although the game would not have any effect on Yarmouth’s playoff seeding, both teams recognized that they are likely to face each other in the opening round of the playoffs and they came ready to play. Despite the one-goal loss, the Clippers played well and it was clear that more disciplined play will give Yarmouth an opportunity to move on in the post-season.
Yarmouth got off to a slow start, but Dan Latham was up to the task as he turned away a flurry of shots early in the game. Cape was first on the board as Latham made the initial save on a shot, but Jeb Boeschenstein scored off the rebound.
Cape took a 1-0 lead into the locker room after one period, but Yarmouth evened the score in the second period when a fluke bounce found Cooper May alone in front of the net for an unassisted goal.
Three minutes later, Peyton Weatherbie put Cape back in the lead. As the period progressed, the Clippers’ play continued to improve, but Cape picked up another goal at 5:32 of the second period for a 3-1 lead.
In the third period, the Clippers started to click and generate offensive opportunities. Just over four minutes into the final period, Bill Jacobs fired a shot that beat Peter Haber and the lead was cut to one. Joe Truesdale and Dom Morrill were credited with assists.
Jacobs’ goal seemed to energize Yarmouth and they dominated play out-shooting Cape 11-6 in the the third period, but inopportune penalties derailed the Clippers’ rally and they were not able to find the tying goal.
The Clippers have had an up-and-down season with a number of one-goal and sudden-death losses. Despite some frustrations, Yarmouth’s play in the final regular season game showed that they are capable of beating anyone in what will be a very close and competitive Class B South playoff.
Yarmouth is locked into the sixth-seed and will await the results of the Cape Elizabeth v. York and Kennebunk v. Greely games to see who their first-round opponent will be this coming Tuesday.
This was the Clippers’ last game at Travis Roy Arena this season due to their sixth-seed ranking. However, Yarmouth’s winning percentage on the road is almost double their home winning percentage this season and Dan Latham has consistently shown that he is a big-game goaltender.
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