It took a few years, but things seem to be right on track for the Lewiston High School lacrosse teams. After miring in mediocrity for a few years, the girls’ team finished a respectable 6-6 this season.

“That actually could very well have been 8-4 or 9-3,” said Lewiston coach Don Jalbert. “We had a couple of one-goal games that, if we played them now with a bit more confidence, we might have won.”

Losses to Thornton (10-9) and Portland (9-8) are two of those games.

The emergence of Angie St. Hilaire between the pipes helped the Blue Devils take the next step. St. Hilaire, also a goaltender in field hockey, took some time to adjust to the mental aspect of being a lacrosse goaltender, but she seems to have found a new home.

“As a field hockey goalie, when you give one goal up you have reason to be worried,” said Jalbert. “I think she’s done well this year realizing that you don’t have to be perfect in lacrosse, especially when you have some firepower in front of you.”

Speaking of firepower, Kelsea Varney leads the Blue Devils in scoring with 33 goals. Second behind Varney is newcomer Gen Lysen with 21.

All three girls will return to the team next season.

Worst to almost first

Not to be outdone were the Lewiston boys. In fact, they may have even more to brag about.

Thanks to the maturation of a few key players and a defensive system, the Blue Devils tore through their schedule and finished with just one blemish at 11-1. The most recent Heal Point standings had Lewiston at No. 3 in the East, which would lead to a first round bye and a game against either Oak Hill or Messalonskee.

“At the beginning of the year we thought we had a realistic shot at .500 this year after our 5-9 season last year,” said coach Tom Fournier. “This is just unreal the way these kids have played this season.”

Defense has a lot to do with the Blue Devils’ success. Last year all three defenders played together for the first time. Now, all three remain part of the team, and the same will hold true next year.

“What’s helped us from their point of view is that they have worked so hard on their stickwork and can now be a viable part of the offense and moving the ball around,” said Fournier.

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