The South Portland Red Riots are off to a 2-0 start following a hard-fought 5-4 win over Portland at the Portland Ice Arena on Saturday. The Riots got the win thanks in large part to Nick Fornwalt, who registered a hat trick, including two huge goals in the third period to ice the game for South Portland.

This was actually a come-from-behind win for South Portland as the Bulldogs got the scoring started with a power play goal from K.R. Jurgelivich at 2:20 of the first. Just 26 seconds later, the Bulldogs lit the lamp yet again as Jason Knight scored an unassisted goal at 2:46 of the period, putting Portland up 2-0, which is where the score stood at the first intermission.

The Red Riots came roaring back in the second period, as Fornwalt got the first of his three goals at 2:55 of the second with assists going to Brendan Horton and Tommy Ellis. The Riots knotted the game at two goals apiece less than a minute later when Robert Hannigan beat Portland netminder Nick Sterling at 3:12 of the second. Brian Cleary picked up the assist on Hannigan’s goal.

South Portland took a 3-2 lead at 6:36 of the second as Horton got his first varsity goal with an assist from Zach Horton.

After the teams ended the second with the Riots up 3-2, it didn’t take Portland long to knot the game once again. Just 33 seconds into the third period, Scott Briggs went top shelf to beat South Portland goalie Dominic Desjardins to tie the score at three.

Then Fornwalt took over, and completed his hat trick. At 3:46 of the third, he picked up his second goal of the game on an assist by Aidan Boyce to put the Riots on top 4-3. He picked up his third goal of the game at 5:49 of the period, and South Portland was on top 5-3.

Portland made things close as Knight got his second goal of the game at 13:15 to make the score 5-4, but that was as close as they would get. Despite pulling the goalie in the final minute, the Bulldogs were not able to get the tying goal past Desjardins, who ended the game with 19 saves.

The Riots are next in action on Dec. 18 as they host Noble at the Portland Ice Arena at 6 p.m. The Riots will also be at home on Dec. 20 as they take on Sanford at 1 p.m.

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