AUBURN — With each save Nick Allen made in the first period, the Leavitt boys’ hockey grew in confidence.

The team from Noble/Wells put up 10 shots in the first period Wednesday, but the senior netminder stopped them all.

“It started with our goalie making the big saves at the beginning,”said Leavitt senior forward Tyler Hutchinson. “That kept us in it. We had confidence in our goalie. We knew he’d keep us in the game, and we just had to score goals.”

Leavitt was the team that scored first and the Hornets built their first win of the season from there. Hutchinson finished with four goals in a 5-1 victory.

“I’m very proud of how well we played,” said Leavitt coach Dave Boucher. “A 4:15 game, you’re not certain how they’ll come out after a day in the classroom.”

Hutchinson scored late in the first and then led an attack that built a 4-0 lead in the second. Allen finished with 27 saves. He had played up front in the Hornet’s last outing. Though Allen scored a goal in the 4-4 tie, Fryeburg scored twice on soft goals, including the tying shot that come from outside the blue line.

“It was a game we should have won,” said Hutchinson. “So that’s something we thought about before this game.”

Jacob Gladu added a goal and an assist for Leavitt (1-1-1). Ryan Gosselin had a pair of assists.

Noble/Wells (1-4) came out strong and outshot Leavitt 10-6 in the first. With 2:45 left in the period, Leavitt seized the lead. Hutchinson took a Kyle Knight pass and wristed it from the right circle.

“That was huge for us,” said Hutchinson. “It gave us momentum.”

Then just 3:41 into the second, Hutchinson scored again on the power play.

“I beat a guy one-on-one down low and I saw that goalie wasn’t really paying attention,” said Hutchinson.

Gladu made it 3-0 with 8:58 left in the period. His shot from the left corner went in off goalie Wyatt Ricker, who was subsequently replaced by Will Kelloway.

“That second goal made a big difference and once we got that 3-0 lead, they looked slightly deflated,” said Boucher.

Hutchinson made it 4-0 with 7:40 left when he got by the defense and went in alone. His first shot was stopped, but his try at the rebound paid off.

Noble/Wells got one back with 6:07 remaining. Ryan Marsh sent a pass ahead for Dean Pratt, who had an open look for a quick wrister.

Then with 8:35 left in the third, Hutchinson completed the scoring. A five-minute major and game misconduct to Marsh late in the game nixed any comeback hopes for Noble/Wells.

“We had some nice plays offensively,” said Boucher. “Tyler did an outstanding job finishing. Our defense played very well picking up the rebounds. Nick was making the first save. The defense was clearing the rebounds and we did a nice job clearing out.”

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