LEWISTON — It might take Greely’s offense a period or two to get going, but as the Rangers have demonstrated this postseason, once they strike, goals will come and come and come.
And so will victories.
On Wednesday evening in the Class B South final at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, top-seeded Greely dug a 2-0 hole against second-seeded Cape Elizabeth after one period, but scored five goals in the second period and four more in the third period for a 9-4 win.
“In the context of this game, the second period was our most important of the year,” said Greely Coach Barry Mothes. “We hadn’t been behind a lot this year, but there was no panic.”
Greely (18-2) got a hat trick from Andy Moore and two goals apiece from Jake MacDonald and Jackson Williams to advance against Old Town/Orono (15-5) in a state final rematch at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Colisee.
Cape Elizabeth came out strong and took a 1-0 lead at 3:51 of the first period when Matt Laughlin beat Rangers goalie Jared Swisher.
The Capers made it 2-0 at 11:52 when Phil Tarling finished on a pass from Laughlin.
Cape goalie Garrett Mello made nine saves in the first period as Greely held a 9-8 advantage.
Greely came storming back in the second period, tying the game on goals 43 seconds apart by Alex Wallace and Moore.
Williams’ goal at 7:16 put the Rangers ahead for the first time.
Cape Elizabeth tied the game a minute later on Tarling’s power-play goal, but at 12:55 Greely took the lead for good when Williams scored again. MacDonald scored on his own rebound with 1:08 left in the period to make it 5-3.
“At intermission, we talked and we knew that’s not how we play hockey,” Williams said. “We knew if we wanted to get it done, we could.”
Moore struck again 38 seconds into the third period to make it a three-goal advantage. Evan Dutil added another on a breakaway before MacDonald scored on the power play and Moore completed his hat trick.
Gavin Simopolous scored Cape Elizabeth’s last goal.
Greely had a 37-17 edge in shots and got 13 saves from Swisher.
Old Town/Orono beat Greely 3-2 in double overtime a year ago and the Rangers have sought revenge since.
“I’m just happy we get another chance as a team to all play together (Saturday),” Moore said. “We’ll play hard.”
The Capers (15-6) got 28 saves from Mello, but lost in the regional final for the second year in a row.
“(Greely’s) a very deep team,” said Cape Elizabeth first-year coach Jacob Rutt. “I thought we outplayed them in (the first period) and the score showed it, then we gave them a little slack and they took advantage.
“I thought we had a great season. Not many people gave us a chance and these guys played their hearts out.”
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