Girls hockey: Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland pounces on Brunswick in North quarterfinal

AUBURN — Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland scored early and often against the Brunswick on Wednesday.

The Red Hornets scored a goal in the opening minute of each period for a 9-0 victory in a girls hockey North regional quarterfinal game at Norway Savings Bank Arena.

“Our coaches really harp on us to start each period strong, (have the mentality of) starting each period 0-0,” Red Hornets forward Caroline Audette said. “I think we did a very good job of doing that.”

Audette had a hat trick and two assists in the win. Eve Martineau added two goals and an assist. Both seniors were named Becky Schaffer Award semifinalists Wednesday.

Martineau’s slap shot 40 seconds into the game gave the Red Hornets a 1-0 lead.

“I think it was really important, just to get us our momentum,” Martineau said. “We were excited going in. Before we went out (on the ice), I said: ‘First shift guys, (the puck is) going in on the first shift,’ and we got it.”

Audette had an assist on Martineau’s goal, then stretched the Red Hornets’ lead to two 11 minutes into the first period.

Brunswick coach Tala Glass said the Dragons did their best to limit the Red Hornets’ chances.

“I am super proud of the team coming out of this game,” Glass said. “We played great team defense and we saw tremendous strides throughout the season from all of our players. They are great in their attitude, their perseverance, and the way they support each other is awesome.”

Megan Lachance came out of the box after taking her first penalty of the season, received a pass from Gianna Castagna in the neutral zone and Lachance scored on the breakaway to extend Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland’s lead to 3-0 with eight seconds left in the period.

Right off the opening faceoff in the second period, Kylee Spugnardi’s shot from the left circle extended the lead to 4-0. Martineau added her second goal of the contest 26 seconds into the second period.

“I thought the turn of the game was (when we scored with) seven seconds left in the first period and the two quick ones in the second,” Red Hornets coach Dana Berube said. “It was great, and step one (is complete).”

Berube said those three goals put the team in the frame of mind the team needed to be.

Later in the second period, Sophia Hartley drove to the net and slid the puck into the goal for a 6-0 lead.

Audette scored 16 seconds into the third period for her second goal of the game. She scored her third goal of the game later in the period to make it 8-0.

Audrey Day tipped a Martineau shot past Brunswick goalie Sensia Lay (33 saves) with 5:20 remaining in the game to round out the scoring.

“It was pretty exciting; I was happy for her,” Martineau said of Day’s goal. “We don’t get that third line in all the time, so when we go in, we get excited for them.”

McKenzi Horton stopped all seven shots she faced for the shutout.