LIVERMORE FALLS – Celeste Michaud and Bianca Bourgault knew there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, but they couldn’t help but wonder whether they’d ever see it.

The combined girls’ soccer program at Jay and Livermore Falls High School became a full-fledged varsity team last year. The Wildcats hoped to improve and continue progressing but were unsure how rapid that development might proceed.

“Last year, we won two games, and we lost our three best players,” said coach Travis Magnusson. “We had three seniors that were very good, and we lost two other seniors that played. We had good freshmen coming up, but honestly, I thought we’d have a couple wins again.”

Michaud, a Livermore Falls senior, was on the club team prior to reaching varsity status for two years. Bourgault, a Jay senior, was on the club squad for a year. Both were unsure just how successful the Wildcats would be in their second season.

“I was a little nervous,” said Bourgault. “I thought we might have a year like we did last year. We won two games last year. After that first game where we almost won against Wiscasset, I was like ‘Good times are coming.’ I had confidence.”

The Wildcats gave up a late goal to the Redskins in defeat. A year ago, Wiscasset beat them 7-0. It was a sign of good things to come. Since then, Jay-Livermore Falls has made more than progress. They ended the regular season with a 6-4-4 record and were ranked sixth in Western B in last week’s Heal Points. One of their ties was a 1-1 stalemate with Georges Valley last Monday, a team that won by a 10-0 margin last year. The Wildcats not only have surprised themselves but stunned the league in the process.

“It’s a tribute to the girls,” said Magunsson. “They’ve bought into the way we play.

“I’m just thappy for the girls. The last couple of years wins were tough to come by. There were a lot of blowouts. Especially for some of the seniors, before they go out, they get to be on a winning team and get to make the playoffs.”

A number of factors have bred the rapid improvement. The team returned most of last year’s squad and learned from mistakes. The Wildcats are improved and chemistry has strengthened. There has been team bonding opportunities regularly, and it has helped communication on the field.

“Last year, we had nothing,” said Michaud of the team suppers. “We didn’t communicate very well. We were always bickering on the field.”

Now, there is leadership and a united purpose. The conflicts of two rival schools playing as one is hardly a factor. They might be on opposite sides when the boys’ soccer teams compete, but when Jay and Livermore Falls team up for a girls’ soccer game, they’re one community.

“We’re not separate schools anymore,” said Michaud. “We’re together. We’re on a team. There’s more from Jay but without Livermore Falls here, we wouldn’t have some of our defense. We wouldn’t have some of our halfbacks, and we wouldn’t have our forwards. We’re a team, and we play together.”

In addition to the team’s gained experience, the youth has had an impact. The team has three sophomore starters and two freshmen starters. They brought in a level of skill the program hadn’t seen before.

“The freshmen are so good this year,” said Bourgault, who hadn’t played soccer until her sophomore year. “A lot of them made straight varsity. Back when we were a club sport or last year, some girls came into it with no background, like I came into it. This year, the freshmen are amazing. They’ve been playing soccer from since they were little.”

Freshman Lexi Deering has seven goals and six assists this year while classmate Alexis Blodgett has been a great addition as well. They compliment the three freshmen from last year that returned as starters, Beth Moore, Allanah White and Katie Beaulieu.

The influx of youthful skill and enthusiasm has not only helped light a spark on this team but also bodes well for its future. The Wildcats have 27 in the program and lose just two starters. Juniors Jennica Turner, Kristin Delavan, Sam Cook and Morgon McDonald will be a strong senior group next year.

In a town where soccer is overshadowed, the Wildcats are making plenty of noise. With the success that the Livermore Falls boys team has produced this year, soccer is attracting attention like never before.

“We’re just changing the atmosphere,” said Magnusson. “Soccer, it was originally ‘Why would you want to do that? or “Who’d want to do that?’ Now soccer is cool. The Wildcats, people want to be part of that.”

After being on a team that saw more blowouts and embarrassments then wins and successes, the Wildcats have changed that stature. It is progress the veterans dreamed about but were unsure that they’d ever see.

“It’s amazing,” said Bourgault. “I tell (the underclassmen) this is the best gift you could ever give me because I’m a senior and you’ve helped us make playoffs.”