AUBURN — It was a game in which one bounce, one opportunity, just might make the difference.

In the second period Friday, the girls’ hockey team from Edward Little-Leavitt-Poland got that bounce and later in the game when Greely needed the equalizer, the Rangers weren’t as fortunate. The Red Hornets managed to hold on for a 1-0 Eastern A semifinal win.

“Greely scares me every year they come out,” Red Hornets coach Shon Collins said. “They’re such a hungry team that just continues to work and frustrate you the entire game. There is no lull where you can let up. I knew it was going to be a dog fight with one or two bounces that would make the difference.”

Sophomore forward Mariah Vaillancourt had the lone goal with 6:28 left in the second period. From there, the Red Hornets played solid defense and got a stellar performance from sophomore goalie Savannah Shaw, who finished with 19 saves.

“My defense are some of my favorite people in the world,” Shaw said. “If I leave a rebound in front, they’re quick to get it to the corner. They block half the shots too.”

The Red Hornets (16-2-1) beat Greely 1-0 earlier in the regular season and tied them 2-2 in the rematch. Though Greely (14-4-1) started strong and outshot the Red Hornets 6-2 in the first, Collins’ team settled down and started playing better hockey. As the game wore on, the Red Hornets played stronger.

“In the beginning, we were a little chippy,” Vaillancourt said. “Then after the first period, we really started to get back to our game.”

Neither team had an abundance of chances in that first period. Kaylee Younk had a shot that was tipped in front for the Red Hornets. Greely had the better of the opportunities. Victoria Lattanzi had the best chance for the Rangers,  a wrister that Shaw saved.

“Once we got our feet under us, halfway through the first period, we started executing the things we want to do,” Collins said.

Greely had a number of chances early in the second. Ellie Schad had a wrister and then Courtney Sullivan had a shot in front that she put up high only to have Shaw block it. Erin Molloy had a bid in front. Shaw made the first save, but Molloy couldn’t get to the rebound. Then Sullivan had another chance when she skated through the slot for a quick wrister that Shaw saved.

The Red Hornets came up empty on a power play early in the second. Danica Nadeau had the best shot during the man advantage. Greely goalie Nica Todd saved that offering from the point.

Then with 6:28 left in the period, Vaillancourt pounced on a puck that a defender couldn’t settle. She took it toward the net where she was able to tuck it in for the lone goal. Kylie Bureau was given the assist on the tally.

“I started going toward the net and it got away from me,” Vaillancourt said. “It was loose in front of the net. I just took it and shot it and it went in.”

The Red Hornets had the chance to add to the lead late in the third when Vaillancourt broke in alone on a shorthanded bid but Todd was able to make the stop.

The Red Hornets had to kill off an early power play in the third. Sullivan had a pair of early shots that threatened. After one shot, Schad got to the rebound and hit the post. The other Sullivan chance was a bid from the right side where Shaw made a sprawling save.

Then in the final minute-plus, Greely pulled the goalie and made the Red Hornets earn it. The Rangers produced consistent pressure in the final 1:28, but Shaw and the defense preserved the shutout.

“One of my defenseman and I have a saying and I always look at the puck and say ‘1:31 of your life and just go hard'” Shaw said. “That’s what I try to do at the end of those tough games.”

Greely had the Red Hornets scrambling at times. DanitaStorey had a shot from the right side that was saved. Sullivan had a crack at the rebound with a sprawled Shaw in front of her.

“The last shot they got, I just reached for it and hoped that I got it,” Shaw said. “I got a piece of it and Danica threw it into the corner.”

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