BREWER – Efficiency over proficiency or quality over quantity. However you want to explain it, the result was the same for the Bangor hockey team Wednesday night.

After being held scoreless in the first period despite blitzing the Brewer net and outshooting the Witches 16-2, the Rams came back to score four goals in their next 14 shots and down their rivals 4-0 in a Class A showdown at T.J. Ryan Arena.

“I looked at my shot chart in the first period and we had all these grade A chances, but they just weren’t going in, so I said ‘Look, guys, if you’ve got the puck on your stick, shoot it’ because you never know what’s going to happen,” said Bangor coach and former UMaine player Dan Kerluke, whose Rams are now 7-1 on the season.

The Rams heeded their coach’s advice, and despite seeing their shot totals go down while Brewer’s went up, the end results were much better.

Bangor’s first goal came from sophomore forward Ben Estabrook, who took a nice centering pass from the right corner from junior T.J. Vanidestine and shot it past Brewer goalie Aaron Saunders into the left corner of the net midway through the second period.

Despite the one-goal cushion, Bangor’s players didn’t start feeling too comfortable until early in the third period, when a three-goal flurry within a span of two minutes and 11 seconds put the game away.

“I think when we got those two quick goals in the third period, that’s what really got us going,” said Nick Payson. “We just thought we just needed to keep on giving it to them and working hard and maybe get a couple garbage goals in front of the net.”

Bangor’s sophomore center was the main catalyst for the Rams as he scored the second goal of the game 49 seconds into the final period on a quick breakaway to the net and a shot to the left corner of the net. He also scored the final goal by poking the puck through a thin gap on the left side of the net between the post and Saunders’ pads.

“I was just trying to work hard and get something going,” Payson said matter-of-factly.

Mike McPike assisted on each of Payson’s goals. Jason Eremita and Andy Marin each were credited with one assist.

The third goal came courtesy of an empty net after one of Brewer’s defenseman accidentally collided with Saunders and sent both of them sprawling into the boards behind the right post. As they disentangled themselves, sophomore forward Alex Forter slapped the puck into the right side of the net off a pass from Matt Boehmer.

Saunders finished with 30 saves on 34 Bangor shots.

“The more saves I make, the better I play, I guess,” Saunders said. “I thought we could hold them and win it after the first.”

Saunders is one of two freshman starters for the 2-7 Witches.

“We’ve got to be one of the youngest teams in Class A with an average age of 151/2,” said coach Steve Van Dolman.

Bangor junior Aaron Buzzell finished with 16 saves on 16 shots.

RAMS 4, WITCHES 0

Bangor (7-1) 0 1 3 ? 4

Brewer (2-7) 0 0 0 ? 0

First period ? No scoring. Penalties: Brew, Richter, roughing, 5:37; Bgr, Vanidestine, holding, 5:37; Brew, Grimes, roughing, 10:03

Second period ? 1. Bgr, Estabrook (Vanidestine, Prescott), 7:52. Penalties: Bgr, Payson, interference, 10:34; Brew, Richter, interference, 13:12

Third period ? 2. Bgr, Payson (Eremita, McPike), :49; 3. Bgr, Forter (Boehmer), 2:06; 4. Bgr, Payson (Marin, McPike), 3:00. Penalties: Bgr, Estabrook, holding, 6:25; Bgr, Vanidestine, tripping, 8:30

Shots on goal: Bangor 16-7-11?34; Brewer 2-7-7?16

Goaltenders: Bangor, Buzzell (16 shots-16 saves); Brewer, Saunders (34-30)

Power-play Opportunities: Bangor 0 of 2; Brewer 0 of 3

Attendance: 500 (est.)