AUBURN — Just days before his team’s rematch with rival Leavitt/Edward Little/Poland, Lewiston High School coach Ron Dumont opted to make some adjustments to his game plan.
The Blue Devils made some changes in the offensive zone and they paid dividends as they scored twice in the opening five minutes during a 3-0 victory over the Red Hornets on Wednesday at Norway Savings Bank Arena.
“That really benefited us to put two on early,” Dumont said. “That kind of took the steam out of them. They’re playing in their home rink. I’m really proud of my girls. We made those changes recently just in the past couple of days.”
Unlike in their first meeting on Dec. 13 at the Colisee, there wasn’t any late-game drama across the bridge. In that matchup, both teams were scoreless through two periods before Allison Frechette netted the game-winner in the third. On Wednesday, it took Lewiston a little over two minutes to break the scoreless tie.
The Blue Devils matched their scoring output from their first meeting with the Red Hornets 2:39 into the contest on a goal from Erica Lemieux. The senior captain knocked in a loose puck in front of the net off a shot from Lauren DeBlois to put Lewiston in front. DeBlois’ shot from the blue line deflected off a Red Hornet defender and came out to Lemieux, who had an empty net to shoot at with Red Hornet goalie Savannah Shaw out of position, having moved to her right to defend the initial shot.
“It pumps up the team very fast and it got the team going,” Lemieux said. “After the first one, we got two more after that and it gave us a cushion.”
A Red Hornet defender played a role in Lewiston’s second goal as well. Less than two minutes after Lemieux lit the lamp, Corinne Laberge wristed a shot from the right circle that hit off a Red Hornet defender in front and deflected into the net past Shaw.
The two-goal cushion was more than enough for Lewiston goaltender Paige Fontaine. She finished with 17 saves to post her third consecutive shutout of the Red Hornets dating back to the Eastern finals. Fontaine made seven saves in each of the final two periods.
“The past couple of years I’ve played them it’s been difficult, but now we have a really good team,” Fontaine said. “I feel like we’re strong enough and I feel good about this team.”
Coming off back-to-back 1-0 victories, Red Hornets coach Shon Collins wanted to see his team put more shots on net.
“Our message to them was to keep it simple tonight,” Collins said. “Any where that you can shoot in their zone, if you can put it on net, shoot and crash the net.”
For the Red Hornets, falling behind early was tough both physically and mentally.
“We knew we didn’t score against them last time we played them,” Collins said. “Paige is one of the best goalies in the state, so even though the girls kept working and generating chances, you know it figures in a little bit in the back of your mind. The girls didn’t quit, but I’m sure it played into it.”
Frechette added an insurance goal mid way through the second period, going far post on a wrap-around.
Lewiston’s third goal had Dumont breathing a little easier.
“It’s said the two-goal lead is the toughest one to hold,” Dumont said. “They’re a tough team and two goals — certainly I have faith in Paige — but it’s tough. It’s tough for anybody. Two goals just seems to be that awkward thing and this was a big game.”
Shaw finished with 13 saves, making a few big stops on Lewiston odd-man rushes to keep the Red Hornets in it.
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