South Portland’s Mary Cronin and Maddie Hasson led the Riots’ offense over visiting Sanford on Thursday, shoveling a combined eight goals past Spartans keeper Eva Belanger in the first half alone. Hasson stayed particularly hot in the latter 25 minutes, and teammates Abby Letourneau and Colleen Fleming also found a groove as South Portland cruised to a 16-7 W.

“We started off strong,” said South Portland head coach Leslie Dyer, “and were playing our game at the beginning, but for some reason our midfield transition, they were just not catching. But they dug deep and pulled it out there at the end.”

The result puts a little space between the teams, who had matching 5-3 records entering Thursday’s contest and were separated by a mere 1.7 Heal Points. South Portland now moves to 6-3 in 2015, while Sanford goes to 5-4. The Riots occupy seventh in the standings, and the Spartans eighth. The top eight teams, come the end of the regular season, earn playoff berths.

The Riots fully controlled the first half on Thursday, putting up three goals in the first 1:20. Sanford quieted South Portland then, but only for a stretch. Roughly eight minutes on, the Riots added their fourth, and scored with relative consistency until the break. By the buzzer, they were up 9-2.

Sanford put together a run in the first five minutes of the second, adding three to bring themselves within four at 9-5. South Portland matched them midway through the half though, hashing three more of their own in another quick, 1:20 span to reopen the seven-goal wound, 12-5.

“Sanford definitely gave us a scare there in the beginning of the second half,” said Dyer. “They came out strong, and it just seemed like they wanted it more at that point.

“We had an unfortunate couple calls not go our way, and Sanford just responded. They had a fairly decent crease roll.”

Dyer praised a number of her players for propelling the team’s recovery after the Spartans’ surge. “It starts off with the draw. I had Maddie Hasson and Abby Letourneau, they started winning some draws, and that helps when you’re in a low period.”

From there, the Riots kept the upper hand, piling on four additional points to the Spartans’ two by the final buzzer.

Dyer also lauded Cronin’s play – in addition to her five goals, she also posted one assist – as well as that of goalie Lily SanGiovanni, who made 13 saves. Hasson finished with five goals, Letourneau with three goals and four assists, Cyr with one and one, Colleen Fleming with two goals and Paige Fleming with two assists.

The Riots’ next matchup is with Windham, 5-3 and fourth in A East. That game is also at home, and slated for Tuesday the 26th at 5:30 p.m. The Spartans visit Massabesic, 7-1 and first in A West, that same day at 6 p.m.

Riots Madi Cyr (1) and Maddie Hasson (21) converge on Sanford’s Kyla Bragg.Mary Cronin had five goals and an assist for South Portland in their big win over Sanford on Thursday.Colleen Fleming added a pair of goals for the Riots in their 16-7 win over visiting Sanford on Thursday.

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