FALMOUTH — The quick start was just what the Lewiston High School girls’ hockey team had in mind, but the end result wasn’t what they were looking for.

The Blue Devils dropped a 3-1 decision to the Greely High School Rangers Wednesday night at the Falmouth Family Ice Center.

“I was telling the kids, the first period is how we have to play all the time,” said Lewiston head coach Ron Dumont. “I got a lot of young ones, and we talk about lessons you learn, and you can’t learn everything at once.”

It was the Blue Devils (5-6) who drew first blood. Natalie Rousseau skated the left side and was looking to connect with Sadie Poulin with a saucer pass. The puck went on net and Emma Seymour made the initial save, but the rebound went to Poulin, who slid the puck into the net at the 5:29 mark of the first period.

“(Sadie Poulin) did a real good job. We have been working with on her,” said Dumont. “Sadie is a second year player and we talk about a lot about positioning and working together. She did a great job, and a great start.”

Lewiston continued to control the play for the remainder of the first period, but couldn’t capitalize on its opportunities, including a power play at the end of the stanza.

The momentum shifted mid way through the second period after Lewiston wasn’t able to convert on its second power play midway through the period. Greely’s offense set up shop in the Blue Devils defensive zone. What looked like a power play for the Rangers was really 5-on-5 play.

Greely (10-2) head coach Nate Guerin said there was no major changes that sparked their offense.

“The biggest issues was getting back on the back-check, and making sure we were picking up bodies,” he said.

Greely broke through at 11:16 mark of the middle frame when Sarah Kurland found the back of the net with an unassisted marker.

“Give Greely credit, they work really hard and they are a veteran team,” Dumont stated. “They are well coached and we hung in as long as we could.”

The onslaught of shots on Lewiston goalie Paige Fountain continued in the third period as she faced two or three shots at once in a couple sequences. Kurland found Paige Tuller in front of the net to make it 2-1 Greely with 7:09 remaining in the game.

“I said keep it up, basically,” Guerin told his players during the timeout after the second goal.

After a Lewiston timeout, the Rangers kept the the pressure on as Megan Finley ripped a shot from the top of the slot to give Greely the 3-1 lead 53 seconds after Tuller’s goal.

“They played a very good third period, one of the best we had all season,” Guerin stated.

Paige Fountain made 25 saves for Lewiston in the loss while Emma Seymour stopped 15 shots for Greely.

“She blocked a lot of shots, we were coughing up a few more rebounds we typically do,” stated Dumont of Fountain.

The Blue Devils were 0-for-4 on the power play while the Rangers had no chances on the power play.

“We would have liked the power play (to work better), but then again I am running three or four freshmen on the power play,” Dumont added.

Lewiston faces Biddeford Jan. 16 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee at 4:20 p.m.