Maine Hockey Journal

Girls Hockey: Laberge hat trick lifts Blue Devils past Capers

(PHOTO: Andrew Gaumont)

(PHOTO: Andrew Gaumont)

LEWISTON — Reigning state champion Lewiston/Monmouth/Oak Hill Blue Devils scored their second victory of the season Wednesday night when they grounded the Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland Capers by a score of 8-1 in girls’ high school action at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

The game started slowly for both teams, but the Blue Devils reared back and snapped off an outbreak of goals.

Blue Devils captain Corinne Laberge netted a hat trick in the first period and continued to score throughout the game totaling five goals. Her early hat trick came on shots from the right faceoff dot where she rifled two wrist shots under the blocker of the Caper goaltender, and the third deflected off of the goalie and found its way to the back of the net.

“I think we decided that we wanted to play hard, and things clicked,” said Laberge about her team’s sudden offensive push. “We were working together, and it felt good.”

Chloe Morin also scored a first-period goal for the Blue Devils when she got a rebound and stuffed it past the goalie. The assists on the goal were given to Bree Bergeron and Jessica Clavet.

Lewiston never looked back after putting on a clinic in the first period. They put four goals on the board and didn’t allow any through the first fifteen minutes.

“I think they need to know that they can put the puck in the net,” said Blue Devils’ head coach Ron Dumont about his team getting their scoring started. “Obviously that helps when you get a few early then you kind of loosen up and then from there it was just kind of let them go.”

While the Blue Devils offense was impressive, their defense and goaltending were key in keeping the Capers at bay. Meagan Gosselin was a solid piece of the puzzle in goal for Lewiston, and Bree Bergeron was lightning quick in bringing the puck up ice for her team.

Bergeron was consistently providing opportunities for her teammates, and her three assists were a strong indication of her unselfishness.

“Bree is a special player. She has the skating ability, and she’s got a good hockey IQ even though she’s just a freshman. We know that, and even being a freshman the expectation is that she is going to get the job done, and we knew she would. Like I tell the girls, it’s a lot easier to play offense than it is to play defense. She’s a great kid and a great teammate.”

While the Blue Devils controlled the tempo and puck possession for most of the game, the Capers were able to get consistent pressure on the Lewiston in parts of the second and third periods.

Cape Elizabeth got on the board 16 seconds into the final period when Hannah Bosworth poked a puck past the Blue Devils goaltender.

The goal would set the tone for the rest of the game, but the Capers weren’t able to muster an attack strong enough to score again.

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