LEWISTON — It was a game that didn’t produce much in the way of tangible results for the Lewiston boys’ soccer team.

The Blue Devils were shut out for the second time this season in a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Brunswick on Tuesday night.

Despite the fact that a goal and a victory eluded the Blue Devils, coach Mike McGraw couldn’t complain about his team’s effort or their ability to challenge one of the state’s top teams.

“We’ve improved to the point where we’re not standing still,” said McGraw, whose club is now 1-2-1. “So I’m encouraged. Even though it was a loss, it was a character builder for us. We know if we’re stalwart defensively and patient, we’re going to get an opportunity, and we can capitalize.”

Lewiston tied Mt. Ararat 1-1 last week but came up short against the Dragons (4-0). Though the Blue Devils got an early jump, Brunswick managed to score on its first shot of the game. Justin Gauvin’s goal held up as Lewiston couldn’t produce the scoring threat needed.

“I think early in the game when we came out hard in that first minute, with (Adam) Wilding coming in, if he was able to reach it with a header, that probably would have set a tone,” said McGraw. “If you get a goal up on Brunswick, you can at least stay with them because you know they’re going to regroup.”

Lewiston’s early pressure didn’t produce anything, and a Dragon’s counter rush led to Gauvin beating a defender for a score 6:31 into the game.

The Dragons kept the pressure on in the first half, outshooting Lewiston 6-2. Gauvin had two other chances, and Jon Wigandt had a missed breakaway bid and a shot hit the crossbar. Lewiston goaltender Brian Nason played well as Brunswick’s quickness up front kept the Blue Devils on their heels.

“We had some nice chances early on that would make a game an awful lot easier to play,” said Brunswick coach Peter Gardner.

In the second half, Lewiston managed to even the play out and create more pressure in the offensive end. Still, the Blue Devils couldn’t muster the equalizer.

“They still controlled the attack,” said McGraw. “We just couldn’t get an advantage. We just neutralized things. They carried the play most of the game until late in the game when we had that sense of urgency.”

Lewiston did have a goal disallowed when Dave LaBonte’s header off a dead ball was nullified. LaBonte was called for jumping into keeper Brian Lemont. Lewiston’s only other chances came on a Nate Farnsworth shot that went wide and another bid that Lemont saved.

“I don’t think they got a lot of quality shots,” said Gardiner. “What they did was challenge well.”