READFIELD -- The Maranacook field hockey team made the most of its early scoring chances Friday in the opening round of the Western Maine Class B playoffs.

First-half goals from Hayley Pierce and Alaechia Lamourex stood up as the Black Bears downed sixth-seeded Greely 2-0.

Third-seeded Maranacook (10-4-1) will play at No. 2 Wells in the semifinals Wednesday. Greely ended its season 8-7-0.

The Black Bears stormed into the Rangers' end of the field during the first minute of play and picked up a penalty corner, which resulted in a goal. Sarah Maxwell took the initial shot off the corner and the ball rebounded off goalie Hannah McCord directly to Pierce, who put it in the cage.

"It's hard to recover after a goal like that but I told the girls once it's done it's done, move on and put the ball in the net," Greely coach Kristina Lane Prescott said.

Midway through the half, Lamourex scored Maranacook's second goal on a shot that bounced over McCord's stick.

"I saw Megan (Surette) and I knew she was going to cross (the ball), so I got ready for it, I nailed it and I got lucky," Lamourex said.

The Black Bears outshot the Rangers 6-1 in an otherwise evenly played first half. The momentum swung Greely's way in the second half and Maranacook goalie Megan Dood was tested several times. Dood stopped six shots, including a partial breakaway by sophomore Julia Dewolf late in the first half which Dood stymied well in front of the goal.

"We talked about her aggressiveness before the game and even being a little cocky," Maranacook coach Nancy Martin said. "And she showed it right then."

Dood made three tough saves in a two-minute span midway through the half in which the Rangers had three straight penalty corners.

Maranacook outshot Greely 8-7 for the game but the Rangers held a 10-2 edge in penalty corners.

Maxwell helped neutralize Greely's territorial edge in the second half with several booming drives from the defensive end of the field.

"She does a great job and I think she places it pretty well," Martin said.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com