BRUNSWICK — Cape Elizabeth came in with a losing record and a No. 6 seed, but no one really expected the Capers to be a patsy in the Class B South boys’ hockey quarterfinals.

And they were not.

Cape Elizabeth scored 9 seconds into the game and never stopped, romping No. 3 Brunswick 5-2 Tuesday night at Bowdoin College’s Watson Arena.

Sean Agrodnia scored two goals as the Capers improved to 8-9-2 – a record against a mix of Class A and B teams, including wins over all the top seeds in B South.

“We like to play the big boys,” Capers Coach Matt Buotte said. “It gets us ready for this time of year.”

No. 6 Cape Elizabeth advanced to the semifinals against No. 2 Gardiner (14-4-1), Friday night at the Colisee in Lewiston. The two teams met once, in the season finale, with the Capers winning 3-1.

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Brunswick finished its first season in Class B at 9-9-1.

Senior Nate Granholm scored twice for the Dragons, in the third period, after Cape Elizabeth had a 5-0 lead.

Despite the seeds, the Dragons were not necessarily favored.

In the regular season, the Capers were 1-0-1 against Brunswick.

“We knew Cape was probably our toughest matchup based on our earlier games,” Brunswick Coach Bill Bodwell said. “They’re deep. We’re not.”

Cape Elizabeth wasted no time establishing itself on Tuesday. With his back to the goalie, Ben Ekedahl scooped a loose puck in the right circle, turned and fired through traffic, scoring inside the far post 9 seconds into the game.

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“It was a quick shot and I just lost it,” Ekedahl said.

The first period was fast-paced, up-and-down hockey.

“I thought we were playing great, getting some chances,” Bodwell said. “But the last four minutes of the first period were pretty rough.”

The Capers had the better possessions, getting players to the net. At 11:37, Ethan Gillespie sent a puck in from the point, Ryan Collins deflected toward the far post, where Agrodnia stuffed it in for a 2-0 lead.

With 40 seconds left in the period, Agrodnia tipped in a shot by Gavin Spidle for a 3-0 lead.

Brunswick needed a quick goal in the second period, and Granholm got a breakaway, but Capers goalie Grant Rusk stopped him, one of his 13 saves.

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There were not a lot of rebound chances by Brunswick. Cape Elizabeth rolled three lines of effective defensemen – Derek Allen and Eli Babcock, Gillespie and Collins, and Gavin Spidle and Alec Riggle.

“I believe we have the best group of defensemen in Class B,” Buotte said.

Cape Elizabeth pulled away on a goal by Matthew Riggle (nice pass from Spidle) and a rebound goal by Phillip Tarling at 12:33 for a 5-0 lead.

Granholm got a couple of breakaways, at 7:19 and 13:49 in the third period. But the Capers were comfortably ahead.

“I think we can go far in the playoffs if we keep playing the way we’re playing,” Ekedahl said.

Gardiner has stumbled lately, going 2-3 in its last five games, including the loss the Cape Elizabeth.

“I don’t know if we got their best the last time,” Buotte said, “but I know we will on Friday. It will be a great game.”


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