BANGOR – Top-seeded Orono’s undefeated record and advancement into the Eastern Maine Class B hockey tournament semifinals were very much in jeopardy.

A tenacious and energized Hampden Academy team had received a late second-period power play goal from sophomore Jeff Mayhew to pull within a goal. And the Broncos knew the Riots would be without their best player and leading scorer, Jake Hedstrom, for half of the third period due to a two-minute hitting-from-behind penalty and mandatory 10-minute misconduct.

But senior right wing Nat Breece redirected a Brian Caggiano wrist shot from the point past Bronco goalie Julian Kaelin just 41 seconds into the third period and the Riots efficiently protected their net the rest of the way to emerge with a hard-fought 3-1 triumph at Sawyer Arena Wednesday night.

Orono’s home rink, the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena, was unavailable due to a concert.

Orono, now 21-0, will face No. 4 Winslow, 10-10-1, in Saturday’s 6 p.m. semifinal at Winslow’s Sukee Arena with No. 2 Gardiner, 17-1-3, facing off against No. 3 Hall-Dale/Winthrop, 14-5, in the second semi.

“We definitely breathed a sigh of relief after Nat scored,” said junior center Pat Skall, who had scored what proved to be the game-winner on the power play in the second period. “That took a lot of pressure off us. We could calm down.”

Hampden Academy senior left wing Sean Tardif said, “That goal hurt us. We had the momentum, but then they got it back.”

Derek Williams’ forechecking and pass to Caggiano at the point led to the Breece goal.

Caggiano’s wrister was headed straight at Kaelin.

“We work on that a lot, going to the net to take away the goalies’ eyes. The puck was fluttering about a foot off the ice and I got my stick on it and flipped it up in the air,” said Breece.

Kaelin said, “It was coming right toward my stomach until he tipped it. It went over my glove shoulder.”

Riot junior goalie Casey Hale made two superb saves a few minutes later to preserve the two-goal lead. He held the post and got his chest on Pat Bailey’s wrister from in tight and gloved a Josh Sparacio slapper labeled for the short side corner.

Hale finished with an exceptional 28-save outing.

“He played well,” said Tardif.

Hampden had all kinds of good chances over the first two periods, but Mayhew was the only Bronco to put one behind him.

“I just tried to stay on my angles, and the defense really helped me out a lot,” said Hale.

Orono opened the scoring at the 5:52 mark of the first period when Mark Caggiano, Brian’s brother, jumped on the rebound of a Dustin Sleight point shot and batted it in off Kaelin’s pad.

Skall made it 2-0 1:50 into the second period off a Hedstrom rebound.

Hedstrom took a wrist shot from the left circle that Kaelin kicked out, but the puck landed on Skall’s stick and he swept it through Kaelin’s pads.

Mayhew’s fifth playoff goal and sixth of the year was a deflection as he tucked an Adam Standley centering pass from the corner under Hale.

Kaelin also finished with an impressive 28-save performance.

Hampden was without standout forwards Mike Brooks (mono) and Greg Brown (concussion).

Riots 3, Broncos 1

Hampden (10-10) 0 1 0 ? 1

Orono (21-0) 1 1 1 ? 3

First period ? 1. Orono, M. Caggiano 5 (Sleight, Dwyer), 5:52. Penalties: Orono, Hale, high sticking (served by Breece), 9:23; Orono, Breece, slashing, 13:42; Hampden, Macone, slashing, 14:57; Hampden, Mosher, unsportsmanlike conduct, 15:00; Orono, Williams, unsportsmanlike conduct, 15:00.

Second period ? 2. Orono, Skall 21 (Kurr, Hedstrom), 1:50 (pp); 3. Hampden Mayhew 6 (A. Standley, Palmer), 12:26 (pp). Penalties: Orono, Skall, elbowing, 4:37; Hampden, Mayhew, interference, 7:21; Orono, Dwyer, holding the stick, 10:14; Orono, Hedstrom, hitting from behind and 10-minute misconduct, 11:54.

Third period ? 4. Orono, Breece 12 (B. Caggiano, Williams), :41. Penalties: Hampden, Moser, high sticking, 7:35; Orono, Merritt, hitting after the whistle, 12:00; Hampden, Morrell, tripping, 12:21; Orono, B. Caggiano, holding, 14:05.

Shots on goal: Hampden 13-7-9?29; Orono 14-10-7?31

Goaltenders: Hampden, Kaelin (31 shots-28 saves); Orono, Hale (29-28)

Power-play Opportunities: Hampden 1 of 7; Orono 1 of 3

Attendance: 400 (est.)