AUBURN – Now this was more like it.

After the anomaly that was the high-scoring goalfest earlier in the season, the Lewiston and Edward Little boys’ soccer teams returned to traditional defensive postures Tuesday.

Instead of the eight-goal shootout that was an EL victory, Lewiston’s defense returned in force in a 1-0 victory for the Blue Devils.

“We’ve come such a long way,” said Lewiston coach Mike McGraw. “I’m really proud of my players and their effort. After the two games where we had 11 goals scored on us, we could have caved in and just gone through the motions. After tying Oxford Hills and losing to Cony, we could have done it again, but our kids didn’t. They came back and did what they had to do. They made us more competitive, thus giving us a chance to continue the hunt for the playoffs.”

Lewiston had given up six goals to Mt. Ararat the game before losing to EL 5-3. The Blue Devils have shored up the defense and helped their playoff hopes with the victory over the seventh-ranked Red Eddies (7-4-1). Lewiston (5-5-2) was 10th in the latest Eastern A standings.

“We knew they were going to load up their defense,” said EL coach Dave Morin, who was missing flip-thrower Adam Lutz for the third straight game. “We didn’t quite have the firepower we had the last time. They did a good job. I thought we had a lot of play in their end in the second half.”

Lewiston’s Hossain Naji scored the lone goal, 14:25 into the game. A Jonathan Roy corner kick from the right side was sent into the goalmouth, where Naji scored amid the scramble.

“Naji is sneaky sweet right around the goal,” said McGraw. “He scores goals that are kind of unexpected. That opportunity was probably the only real threatening opportunity that we had.”

It was enough for the Blue Devils. EL had the edge in possession and created pressure in the second half, but could not produce the quality chances needed.

EL’s best bid came with 3:35 left when Eric Prue’s cross from the left side targeted an open Billy Brewster at the right post. Lewiston defender Cory Chamberlain stepped in and booted the pass over the net.

“That was our best chance, I thought,” said Morin. “Other than that, neither team really had great shots.”

A key ingredient to Lewiston’s defensive scheme was Zach Godbout’s play on EL’s Ben Hartnett. With Lutz out and Hartnett closely marked, the Red Eddies couldn’t get much going offensively.

“Although EL played a lot better in the second half, I thought with him neutralized, it made them less efficient,” said McGraw.