LEWISTON – If you ask Laura Martel what she does when she isn’t playing soccer, she might give you a puzzled look.

That’s because there isn’t much time when the Lewiston junior isn’t playing the game she loves.

“Lots of people say Don’t you get sick of it?'” said Martel. “No, I love it. It’s like my life. School, soccer, family, that’s what I was brought up with.”

At one point this year, Martel was playing for four different soccer teams. When she dons the Blue Devil varsity jersey in the fall, that might actually be her slow time of year. Just starting her third year on varsity, Martel already has a resume few peers can match.

“Laura is such a solid player,” said Lewiston coach Rick Meyers. “I call her my gold in my pocket. It’s like having a big chunk of gold in your pocket. You can’t miss. I’m just so excited to know her.”

Martel already has 44 goals in her career. Chantal St. Laurent, Lewiston’s last great sniper finished her career with just over 50. Martel already has 10 goals and seven assists this season as the Blue Devils have jumped out to a 4-2 record, despite losing nine seniors and three All-State players.

“She has a whole other gear that I just don’t see in other players,” said Meyers. “She has that speed, that quickness and gets herself open. Another thing is that she finishes. The kid just doesn’t miss.”

Martel has built up her credentials for a reason. She hopes her All-State and All-Conference honors can help pave the way toward a Division I soccer career. By playing on four different teams, Martel has been trying to make that happen. She played on the Lewiston summer team, the Olympic Development Team, the Coastal Soccer Club and the Odyssey Soccer Club.

“She has mentioned to me that her goal is to play Division I soccer, and we’re really trying to get her set for doing that,” said Meyers. “As a junior, this is the time to start putting an effort into that.”

Martel says her hectic playing schedule in the spring and summer is benefiting her this fall.

“In Super Y (Super Youth League), you get to Connecticut and Rhode Island and you play tougher defenders,” she said. “She’s going to mark you up with her hands on your shirt. You have to get used to that. It’s getting used to playing with two defenders on you and going from there. I definitely feel better prepared.”

With the loss of nine seniors, the onus has been on Martel to pick up the slack. Losing Katie Morin in the midfield was especially hard to replace considering her skills and knack for setting Martel up.

“We lost nine seniors, and it was a huge hit for our team,” said Martel. “The JV players that came in have stepped it up, and it’s been a great season so far. Everybody’s stepped it up.”

Players like Kelsey Varney and Tracy Bradley have done nicely in the midfield to bolster the lineup and counter the defensive attention on Martel.

“We talked about that in the preseason,” said Meyers. “She knows that’s happening, and we totally expect that to happen every game. The best part is her teammates know that too.

“She’s going to find somebody. They just need to stay with her. If she doesn’t have an open shot, she’s going to find someone else.”

Her impact goes beyond her offensive prowess. Her work ethic and commitment is contagious. Others strive to elevate their games to equal hers. Her talents and experience are a tremendous resource.

“She brings a lot to the team,” said Meyers. “They see how you need to work. When you think about why we are where we’re at, it’s because her work ethic and hard practicing has brought everyone up.”