LEWISTON — Two quick goals proved equally stunning and motivating Wednesday night.
After Brunswick scored twice in a span of just 15 seconds, the Lewiston girls’ hockey team not only watched their lead disappear but also realized it needed to respond.
“I knew we could come back,” sophomore Jordan Mynahan said. “We compete. I think we went in thinking that we beat them 6-0 before and that this could be easy for us. That’s how we went in with Yarmouth the week before. When they scored those two goals, I knew we’d get them back.”
Sure enough, the Blue Devils got a tying goal from Bree Bergeron in the second and the game-winner from Mynahan with 3:31 left in regulation to lift Lewiston to a 3-2 win over the Dragons in a North quarterfinal.
Though Brunswick produced some great pressure in the third period, Lewiston netminder Meagan Gosselin was superb and Mynahan scored on a wrap-around tally to the win.
“We pushed much harder,” Mynahan said. “We don’t like overtime and it stresses us out. We put all of our players on and pushed down there.”
Lewiston had beaten Brunswick 4-1 and 6-0 during the regular season but both teams had struggled down the stretch. The Dragons (8-10) had gone 1-4-1 since losing to Lewiston. The Blue Devils (11-7) had lost three straight to end the regular season.
“They did really good with their forecheck and pressure,” Lewiston coach Ron Dumont said. “They were making us miss and making us not play the game that we can. I think we just kind of lost our heads and got out of our rhythm.”
Lewiston outshot Brunswick 9-2 in the first period and got the lead on a Corinne Laberge goal with 7:42 left in the first. Mynahan had a shot from the right side and Laberge was in front to steer it home.
“We had an opportunity at 1-0,” Dumont said. “That’s if we get the second one. That changes the tide. Then they got two goals in a row. I told them that they were going to push back and that we had to be ready.”
Brunswick took the lead early in the second. Lewiston missed an opportunity to clear and Jenna Brooks jumped on a loose puck and wristed it in at 4:07. Then just 15 seconds later, Brooks centered a pass to the front where Beth Labbe put Brunswick ahead at 4:22.
“I felt it would be just like the EL game,” Mynahan said of the 4-1 win over the Red Hornets. “We’d get that third goal and we’d win. Bree always comes through like that.”
Bergeron tied it with 4:41 left in the second. She skated end-to-end and wristed it in from the left circle for the equalizer.
“It’s good that we got to the break at 2-2,” Dumont said. “That’s helpful. Then you’re not fighting as much of an uphill battle. We had the chance to settle down a little bit.”
Brunswick kept the pressure on in the third and even had a power play chance with 6:23 left. The Dragons created some quality shots and Brooks was superb, creating all kinds of havoc. She hit the post on one try and had a couple of other bids by Gosselin.
“I just thought to myself that I had to do my job because that’s what I’m here for,” said Gosselin, who finished with 19 saves on 21 shots. “Just like they had to do their jobs.”
Lewiston had its best pressure of the period in the final minutes. Mynahan had a shot from the point that Jaylin Cloutier nearly put into an open net. Brunswick goalie Jordan Van Savage was able to make the stop. The puck ended up in the right corner and Mynahan gave chase. She won possession and continued on around the net.
“I saw the girl go get it,” Mynahan said. “It was 50-50 and whoever got their first. I just pushed through and knocked it around her. I just went around (the net), and I didn’t see an opening at all. I saw her pad up a little bit and I was just quickly pushing it in and hoping for the best.”
Brunswick pressed for the equalizer. The Dragons pulled Van Savage in the final minute and Brooks had a bid when she snuck behind the defense. Gosselin made the save to preserve the lead with 1:38 left.
“That last breakaway she had was really nerve-wracking but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Gosselin said.
kmills@sunjournal.com
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