AUBURN — There was all kinds of uncertainty leading up to Wednesday’s season opener.
Edward Little and Leavitt have joined together for the first time to form a cooperative girls’ hockey team. With a new collection of players and coach, there were all kinds of question marks as the team took the ice for its first regular-season game.
“We just didn’t know,” said freshman defenseman Taylor Landry. “It’s a new team and a new kids coming together. We just didn’t know what was going to happen.”
The Red Hornets provided some answers Wednesday with a convincing 4-0 win over a cooperative club from Gorham and Bonny Eagle. The Red Hornets scored two goals in a span of a minute and added a third to build a quick 3-0 lead in the opening period.
“The girls have been jelling very well,” said coach Eric Geoffroy. “There hasn’t been any conflicts. No adversity. It’s been going pretty smooth.”
The Red Hornets dominated GBE, outshooting them 25-6. Though Geoffroy’s club got away from playing the kind of system he wanted to see, it still moved the puck well and controlled the game from start to finish.
“That’s what we’ve been focusing on in practice,” said Geoffroy of his team’s ability to control the puck defensively and transitioning it up ice, keeping the opposition on its heels. “We have a real strong D core. If you have strong D, you’re going to have a strong offense.”
The first goal came from one of its defensemen when Landry skated free down the right wing and wristed a shot home at 2:48.
“It was pretty awesome being a freshman,” said Landry, who also added an assist. “I just saw the lane and I went.”
The lead went to 2-0 just 59 seconds later. Tori Mae Couture took a Sydney Nadeau pass and fired a shot from the right circle then went in off the GBE goalie.
“That helped out a lot,” said Geoffroy of the early lead. “We were playing two lines at the beginning. Right away, we were playing everybody. That was good to see. A lot of the girls are new. I’ve got six girls that are brand new to hockey.”
The Red Hornets made it 3-0 with 5:40 left. Sabrina Lapointe’s shot was saved and put in by Shelbea Russell in front.
“We’re a new team,” said Landry. “So it showed that we’re serious and want to play.”
EL outshot GBE 9-1 in the first period and 10-2 in the second. Landry set up Kayla Royer with 7:49 left in the second. Royer wristed one by GBE goalie Carissa Farwell for the 4-0 lead.
Red Hornets goalie Brianna Stanley wasn’t tested until late in the third but made some solid saves and finished with six stops and the shutout.
“We just went out and had fun,” said Landry. “We did plays and worked as a team.”
kmills@sunjournal.com
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- Jose Leiva/Sun Journal Edward Little/Leavitt’s Taylor Landry moves the puck down with Gorham/Bonny Eagle’s Taylor Lappin in pursuit in hockey game played at Ingersoll Area , Auburn Wednesday.
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- Jose Leiva/Sun Journal Edward Little/Leavitt’s Tori Mae Couture skates to control the puck in hockey game played at Ingersoll Area with Gorham/ Bonny Eagle , Auburn Wednesday.
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