La Salle’s goal-scoring woes continued Wednesday afternoon. The Explorers found the back of the net just once in a 2-1 non-league loss to Landon School at Hatfield Ice.

Artin Tahmasebi ended matters 39 seconds into three-in-three overtime off a sprint down the left wing that finished when he beat La Salle goaltender Danny Trainer.

The loss dropped the Explorers to 2-8 on the season. But there were signs that the pieces are beginning to fit together as coach Wally Muehlbronner expected they would when the season began.

“We’re definitely starting to come together,” he said. “Guys are starting to play hard for one another.

“We had some really good zone times today. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to any goals, but we had some good possession times in the {offensive} zone, and guys were hard on the puck. So, we’re getting there.”

Trainer, a sophomore, made his first varsity start in goal. He made some big saves at key moments; all told, he stopped 19 shots.

“He was solid, right from the beginning,” Muehlbronner said. He had really good focus. He’s a good-sized kid so he takes up a lot of the net. He was good. He was very square to the puck and made some key saves when we needed him to.”

The first two 15-minute periods were scoreless. The Bears (6-3), who hail from Bethesda, Md., took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Walker Kraemer 3:51 into the third period.

Patrick Lunsford responded for the Explorers three-and-a-half minutes later from midway between the two faceoff circles.

Tahmasebi’s game winner was an outstanding individual effort, Trainer could not be faulted on the play.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way we would have liked in the overtime,” Muehlbronner said, “But it wasn’t the result of {Trainor’s} play.”

• Following Christmas, the Explorers will spend the weekend in New England. They are scheduled to face Bishop Hendricken on Friday on Warwick, Rhode Island before spending Saturday competing in a tournament against St. John’s College (their Friday opponent), Christian Brothers Academy, and La Salle Academy. Those games will be played on Friday in Foxboro, Mass. and on Saturday in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Muehlbronner has traditionally utilized the trip as a team building experience

“It’s a very important trip for us this year,” he said, “just because of how many new guys we have.

“It’s the first time a lot of them are really going to get to know each other away from the rink and away from school, which is great. I know they’re all looking forward to it. So, hopefully we come out of it a better, stronger team.”

Landon School  0 0 1 1—2

La Salle 0 0 1 0—1

Third-period goals: Walker Kraemer (Lan) from Grant Kraemer, 3:51; Patrick Lunsford (La) from Quin Leonards and River Carnagi, 7:38

Overtime goal:   Artin Tahmasebi (Lan) from Owen Moore, :39

Shots Landon 21, La Salle 19: Saves: Aden Perry (Lan) 9 and Greg Saffell (Lan) 9, Danny Trainer (L) 19,