AUBURN — The Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland Red Hornets’ offense was buzzing from the start Wednesday against Greely.
The Red Hornets scored eight goals in the first period on their way to a 12-2 win over the Rangers at Norway Savings Bank Arena.
Sophia Hartley and Kylee Spurgnardi each had a hat trick for Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland (4-4-2), while Megan Lachance scored twice.
“We were trying to get more girls involved,” Red Hornets coach Dana Berube said. “Megan Lachance, the second game in a row with two goals. We played everybody a lot, and I took two of our top forwards and moved them in the third period and put them back on (defense).”
Greely (3-8) was without starting goalie Madeline Singer because of COVID-19 protocols, so Olivia Bidwell put on the pads for only the fourth time in her career.
“She played excellent, we just had trouble with our defense assignments, getting the puck down low,” Rangers assistant coach Erin McCabe said. “Everybody is still kind of learning to play in the defensive zone. We got pulled out of position sometimes.”
The Rangers also were playing their fifth game since Jan. 18.
“We have a big stretch of games back-to-back; the girls legs are pretty tired right now,” McCabe said. “They have definitely played better, but today was a tough one.”
Lachance scored on a breakaway to give the Red Hornets a 1-0 lead 96 seconds into the game, and less than a minute later, Caroline Audette stretched the lead to 2-0.
Spugnardi scored her first of the game just past the five-minute mark.
The Red Hornets went on a scoring barrage in the final five minutes of the first period. Hartley stretched the lead to 4-0, then Lachance scored her second goal of the period. Eve Martineau added a breakaway goal and Spugnardi scored her second goal to give the Red Hornets a 7-0 lead.
Greely’s Lily Rawnsley put the Rangers on the board in the final minute of the first period.
“She’s a great skater and a great player,” McCabe said of Rawnsley. “Kerry (Roberts) and her can carry us a lot, and they are excellent passers as well.”
Alyssa Prosser scored with five seconds remaining to put the Red Hornets up 8-1.
“I thought Alyssa had some outstanding plays and was very mature for a freshman,” Berube said.
Hartley scored a shorthanded goal and an even-strength goal in the second period for the hat trick, extending the Red Hornets’ lead to 10-1.
Spugnardi completed her hat trick in the final minute of the second.
Rawnsley scored her second goal of the game for Greely in the third, and Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland’s Molly Sirois scored to make it 12-2 later in the final period.
“It’s good to see Molly Sirois get a goal; she hasn’t had one this year,” Berube said. “She has been working her tail off.”
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