LIVERMORE FALLS — For a staff that changed over in the offseason, the coaches of the Livermore Falls boys’ soccer team look pretty similar to what they’ve had in the past.

Long-time head coach Larry Thornton resigned during the summer, citing a need to devote time to a new job. Bill Acritelli, his assistant with the Andies, subsequently assumed the top job. When he went looking for an assistant, he didn’t have to search long and hard. His right-hand man is Thornton.

“We’ve been together for five years,” said Acritelli. “We told the kids that nothing’s changed. We’re both here — head coach and assistant coach. It doesn’t matter. If he wants to pull somebody and put them on the field, he’s quite qualified to do that. He’s a super person to have as my assistant, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

Thornton was the head coach for seven years. He took over a fledgling soccer program in 2002 and watched it grow into a formidable force in the MVC. The Andies produced winning seasons the last three years and made the playoffs. It was a hard choice for him to step down but a necessary one, especially after being out of work for the better part of two years.

“It’s something he can’t let go,” said Acritelli, who works at Oxford Plains Speedway. “He’s been here. He’s the one that brought soccer to the high school. He’s here when he can be here.”

Acritelli says that since both coaches have been quite vocal and played active roles in coaching the past, there really hasn’t been much of a change or adjustment for the players. It helps having eight seniors and two junior leading the squad. The Andies are currently 3-3 in Western C and should be in the playoff chase once again this year.

“As a first year head coach, I couldn’t ask for better kids,” said Acritelli. “They all work 120 percent for me all the time.

New in net

When Lisbon lost veteran keeper Derrik Lycette, the Greyhounds had to find a replacement. Coach Dan Sylvester looked to his midfield. Ethan Audie was converted from a field player to the goal this year, and it has been a beneficial move. Audie has played well in net as Lisbon began the year 4-3. That’s after the defending MVC champs lost graduated a wealth of talent.

“He’s a field player that turned into our goalie,” said Sylvester. “He does a really good job, and he’s still learning. We’re young defensively, too. We have three sophomores starting on defense. They’re still learning as well.”

Head for the game

Tim Mains made quite the debut for the Edward Little boys’ Saturday. The junior played in his first regular season game for the Red Eddies and scored EL’s lone goal in a 1-1 tie with Lewiston.

Mains scored with a header off a Branden Lever corner kick in the second half to put EL ahead. That lasted until the Blue Devils tied it with a J.J. Musse goal with eight seconds left in regulation. For an EL team missing starters Steven Giorgetti and Tim Brodksy and losing Jeremy Theriault in the first half to an injury, Mains was a significant addition to the lineup.

“Tim got hurt during basketball season,” said EL coach Dave Morin. “He had a severe concussion and didn’t play all summer. He didn’t do too much during preseason. We got him in later in preseason, and he got bumped again. They said if it had been anybody else, he’d have been out a day or two, but they kept him out two weeks.”

No more pushups

Before dismissing students after class, Lee Hixon often has the St. Dom’s boys’ soccer players do pushups. He made a deal with Alex Parker this week that may have gotten the junior midfielder out of such activity. Prior to Monday’s game against Wiscasset, Parker and Hixon, the schools athletic administrator and physical education teacher, discussed that day’s showdown between the top two teams in Western C. Parker was told that if he scored three goals, he’d be exempt from the pushups. Sure enough, the Saints walloped the Redskins 6-0 and Parker finished off a hat trick late in the second half.

He sat on the bench after coming out of the game. Hixon glanced over and moved his arms in a pushup motion. Parker smiled and mouthed “No more pushups.”