By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – It was one goal that Laura Martel never tried to envision.

The all-time leading scorer in Lewiston girls’ soccer history had been nominated for All-American honors before but didn’t imagine actually winning. So Sunday when her name was announced at the 32nd Maine Soccer Coaches Association awards banquet in Bangor, it still came as a surprise.

“It was exciting,” said Martel. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. My coach knew, and he didn’t tell me about it. I had no idea. I was totally clueless that I was getting it. I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there dazed. I was so excited, I didn’t know what to do.”

Martel was named the MSCA’s All-America representative as well as receiving All-New England honors and being named the Class A Girls’ Player of the Year. Martel will join fellow All-America representatives at a banquet in Philadelphia next month.

“It’s not fully sunk in, yet,” said Martel. “My dad is still like, I can’t believe you got it.’ I guess it just hasn’t hit me, yet. I’m pretty excited. I’ve been playing since I was four years old. I happened to get it. You can’t put it into words.”

Martel scored a career-high 27 goals this fall and added eight assists. She finished her record-shattering career with 86 goals and 44 assists. Martel was also named to the Eastern Maine State Team Sunday for the third straight year.

Bangor’s Dylan George was named Maine’s All-America selection for boys’ soccer. He was also an All-New England pick and the Class A Player of the Year.

Martel had been nominated last year, but with so many talented players around the state, Martel said she could never assume or take the idea of winning for granted.

“You never expect an award like that,” she said. “Just to be nominated last year doesn’t mean you have a pretty good shot. There’s always kids that come in and have improved. You have to work just as hard and hope for the best.”

She says it was a perfect ending to her Lewiston soccer career, though her season with her Odyssey Premier team has just gotten underway. Martel intends to attend the University of Maine. She hasn’t fully committed, yet, but is awaiting to hear back from the school about a financial aid package.

“They’re going to be calling me this week to let me know,” said Martel. “They give out few full boats. So I’m not going on a full ride, but they said they’re, hopefully, going to give help out, which is nice. I just don’t know yet.”

The other All-New England players included Scarborough’s Taylor Sabo, Greely’s Greg Frost and Mt. Ararat’s Ryan Vermette. Joining Martel on the girls’ side was Gorham’s Kelsey Wilson, Bangor’s Jessie Roberts and Presque Isle’s Katie DeLong.

Also named to the Eastern Maine State team was Edward Little’s Brittney French. Lisbon’s Soleil Mathieu, Mt. Abram’s Emma Coffin and Winthrop’s Melissa Nguyen were named to the Western Maine State Team.