The Edward Little team has new personnel and its travel destinations have changed, but the Red Eddies’ winning ways continue.

EL is still on fire after going on to win the Class A Western regional last season.

This season, Edward Little and Lewiston have headed north for most of their games in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference. The switch came after the Twin City teams left the Southern Maine Activities Association.

“It’s hard to say,” Edward Little coach Greg Perkins said. “It’s early; we haven’t played many games, but it’s a new challenge. We have some tough games coming up.”

EL went to beat arch-rival Lewiston, 4-1, and topped Oxford Hills and Lawrence in the first three games of the year.

Last season the team had the luxury of rotating in two substitutions of five players each.

“The numbers have changed,” Perkins said. “We’ve been going seven deep up front because there’s not as much depth, yet. The offensive flow has been similar and the scoring has been spread out.”

The main weapons have been forwards Gina Giaeani and Kathy Harder. Becky Hughes has also scored, but more important has been her play on the right side of the midfield. Hughes has replaced all-stater Denise Minigell. The other starters in the midfield include Britney Roberge and Jess Nussinow. Also receiving quality time is converted back Jess Donovan and sophomores Amanda Burgess and Kate Woodward.

Surprise, surprise

A surprise early on this season has to be unbeaten Mountain Valley which has a solid line-up the entire length of the field. The Falcons are pleased that their efforts are paying off, but the players also understand success is fleeting.

You’d be hard pressed to hear gloating coming from the Mountain Valley camp. After a game last week, captain Samm Johnson said: “We plan on playing this way throughout the season.”

The season began with a pair of 1-0 overtime wins against Telstar and Livermore Falls, respectively. Senior forward Jessica Allen scored both goals and Nikki Demers had the assists.

Johnson (three goals) has been doing a solid job in the midfield and her efforts have increased the offensive flow. In the last two games, the Falcons have had 19 and 26 shots. The supporting cast has been stepping up, including Ashley Arsenault, Kaly Bernard (two goals), Brianna Touchette and Michelle LaPointe.

Mountain Valley’s defense hasn’t allowed a goal this season. Fullbacks Mallory Thurston (converted goalie), Jen Kellogg and sweeper Erin Stearns have done an excellent job. Falcon goalie Kim Clark has been equally effective.

Too close to call

Lisbon has experienced trouble closing out close games. The Greyhounds split their first four games and encountered pure heartache against Hall Dale last Friday night.

An unassisted goal by Brianne Delcourt gave Lisbon a 1-0 lead when the momentum shifted in the game.

There was five minutes left in the game when the Bulldogs’ Katie Regan scored to knot the game. In overtime, Lisbon never got a shot off and Hall-Dale scored on a great diving shot from inner Katie Frett. Lisbon outshot the Bulldogs 18 to 14 and held 11 to seven margin in corners.

“Losing those close games are tough,” Lisbon coach Mark Stevens said. “We do play them again in a couple of weeks. Two of my girls were out of the line-up with injuries.”

Lisbon lost five games by one goal last year, so the battle cry this season was to stop the bleeding. Things started on a positive note with a win in OT over Livermore Falls. That followed with the program’s first-ever win over Jay. Emily Poliquin scored two goals in the 5-2 win.

“Anyway, the team is looking strong,” Stevens said. “We just need to make the shot to goal percentage a little better. The team goal from this moment on is to score more then our opponents.”