LEWISTON —If you think the Edward Little-Lewiston high school sports rivalry has cooled even one degree in the age of social media, all-star teams and sports camps, you missed Tuesday night's girls' soccer showdown at Don Roux Field.
Edward Little's Rebeka Abel goes up against Lewiston goalie Lex Jimenez in the first half of their game Tuesday in Lewiston. The Red Eddies went on to top the Blue Devils, 2-1.
Edward Little's Lexi Clavet fights with Lewiston's Erica Lemieux for control of the ball in the first half of their game Tuesday in Lewiston. The Red Eddies won, 2-1.
Lewiston's Emily Paione works to field the ball away from Edward Little's Avery Chisholm in the first half of their game Tuesday in Lewiston. EL topped Lewiston, 2-1.
Lewiston's Kristina Blais heads the ball away from Edward Little's Danielle Rock in the first half of their game Tuesday in Lewiston. EL topped Lewiston, 2-1.
Well, you missed the post-game celebration, at least.
Edward Little hooted and hollered as if it had won a state championship, and why not? Two second-half goals by Kate Sawyer helped the Red Eddies avenge a pair of 3-0 losses one year ago with a 2-1 triumph.
As the horn sounded, the host Blue Devils felt powerless as the Eddies gathered in a circle and jumped up-and-down on visiting turf, then ran a loud victory lap the width of the field and back.
"Words can't describe how happy I am," Sawyer said. "Last year they gave it to us. They outworked us, had a better performance. I've been waiting for this. This is redemption for me."
Lewiston, missing multiple players due to injury on this drizzly night, filed away a few mental notes.
"I'd rather have this happen now than our second game, which is for the trophy," Lewiston coach Butch Dow said. "And it's kind of good that their girls reacted the way they did. Our girls were a little upset and I said, 'You know what? Good. Let it burn a fire in you.'"
With graduation losses and the absence of junior striker Kory Norcross leaving a void, Sawyer has moved from her comfort zone in the midfield to become more of a centerpiece on offense.
While the Blue Devils (0-2) closely marked senior classmate Lexi Clavet, Sawyer was able to break free for the tying tally and the go-ahead score in a span of just over five minutes.
Abby Bellefleur's through-ball between two Lewiston defenders set up Ayumi Ranucci, who rifled a shot from the right corner.
Devils goalie Lex Jimenez knocked it down, but Sawyer was there to pounce on the rebound.
"Two or three days we've been working on finishing and putting the ball in the net," EL coach Craig Latuscha said. "Today was (Sawyer's) day, and I'm proud of her. The seniors worked really hard for this."
Sawyer cashed in on another scramble in front of the cage to put EL in front with 14:42 to go.
Allarie Lever absorbed a hard shot from her defender to get off the final pass.
"I have a lot of great people around me. I have great teammates who told me quit being so unselfish and score for once," Sawyer said. "They were really supportive about it and they've helped me through it all preseason. This is something new to me. I'm not used to this. I'd rather make people look good."
Lewiston's Jess Cote scored the lone goal of the first half, applying the finishing touch to a 30-yard free kick by Mariah Carrier.
Jimenez (12 saves) stifled several offerings by EL (1-0) in the final five minutes of the half.
"It was a pretty even game. I'm not looking forward to the next matchup, because I think it's going to be an all-out brawl," Latuscha said. "It was a great game. Both teams played well. They could have beat us the same way we beat them."
The rematch, if you're keeping score, is Saturday, Oct. 6 in Auburn.
"We need to work on heading the ball and passing and finishing," Dow said. "It's a weakness, but it's going to become our strength."
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