AUBURN – First impressions proved deceiving Monday night for the Leavitt boys’ hockey team.

After scoring just 14 seconds into the game, the Hornets might have thought they were in for an easy night and victory against the combined team from Oak Hill/Lisbon. When Leavitt had just a one-goal lead after the first period, the Hornets were rethinking that assumption.

“You score within 14 seconds, and we end up with a 2-1 lead after the first period,” said Leavitt coach Ron Rouillard. “That’s not right.”

The Hornets corrected things in the second with four goals and secured a 6-1 victory.

“The second period, the guys started playing the way they should be playing,” said Rouillard. “The first period, I think they were too relaxed. They thought they were going to have an easy game and wouldn’t have to work too hard.”

Ryan Urquhart and Tyler Robitaille each had a pair of goals while Steven Rouillard had a goal and three assists for the Hornets (5-1). Cooper Legee and Scott Cloutier each had two assists. Goalie Cody Violette had 11 saves.

Justin Grant had the lone goal for Oak Hill/Lisbon (0-4) while netminder Kyle Watson made 35 saves on 41 shots.

“They never stopped digging,” said coach Kevin Partridge. “We didn’t stop until the last buzzer. If it wasn’t for the second period, it would have been 2-1. That’s a huge step for us. It’s definitely a stepping stone. Games we’ve had definitely weren’t as close as this one could have been.”

Leavitt scored just 14 seconds in when Cooper Legee’s pass from the right post was put in by Urquhart. The Hornets dominated play and had the puck in their offensive end for much of the first five minutes but couldn’t add to the lead.

Oak Hill/Lisbon tied the game with 9:30 left when Grant put in a loose puck from the right side. Watson preserved the tie with a couple of keys saves, including a shorthanded breakaway by Cloutier.

Leavitt retook the lead with 42 seconds left when Rouillard skated across the high slot and fired a shot. Drew Bent was in front to tip it.

“We played really bad that first period,” said Urquhart. “We had to get our mindset to not playing at their level and play our game.”

Rouillard switched up his lines and emphasized that his team needed a better effort.

“Some of the guys were trying to force it and do it on their own,” said Rouillard. “They weren’t working together as a team.”

Just 1:44 into the second, Leavitt added to the lead. Urquhart scored his second on a pass by Cloutier.

“That lifted our team a lot and got us on track,” said Urquhart.

The Hornets made it 4-1 at 4:32 when Eagan Nadeau’s blast from the point was saved, but Robitaille put in the rebound. Rouillard had a redirection in front for a shorthanded tally with 5:33 left. Then Rouillard set up Robitaille for the 6-1 lead with 3:44 left.

“It was hard work, dedication and the mental preparation before the game,” said Partridge of his team’s opening period. “The second period, it was just a mental lapse.”

Oak Hill-Lisbon had six tries at the power play but came up empty. To make matters worse, Leavitt scored twice shorthanded.

“Our power play is a weak point, ” said Partridge. “We rush the puck too much. Usually that hurts us. The penalty kill is usually a strong point.”