LEWISTON — When you blow out the only remaining Class A boys’ lacrosse team in the state by nine goals, you earn the right to dictate the post-game conversation, both on the field and on the record.

So Lewiston goalie Jesse Leeman had one request after a 12-3 rout of Messalonskee in the rain Monday night at Bates College.

“I think our entire starting defense deserves their names in the paper,” said Leeman, who anchored the group with nine saves.

Sounds like a plan.

Let’s start with Steven Patrie, who chased and nudged Messalonskee’s attack men to the far corners of the scoring area all evening and smothered them soon as they got there.

There’s no forgetting speedy Sheldon Jones, who played with the earnest conviction that every ground ball in the defensive zone belonged to him.

Cody Dussault was a nuisance in front of Leeman. Long stick midfielder Justin Millette and short stick standouts Caleb Leino and Eric Michaud also made their goalie’s honor roll.

“After they beat Portland (Saturday), I didn’t really think it would be a blowout like this,” Patrie said. “But we communicated great. We played smart. We didn’t go for the sticks. We went for the body. We just played a great game.”

Lewiston (7-1) held Nate DelGiudice, who averages four goals per game, to one goal and one assist.

DelGiudice scored on the Eagles’ opening possession. Messalonskee (7-1) then endured a drought of more than 22 minutes while Lewiston scored eight unanswered goals.

“One of the hardest things to teach in lacrosse is teaching defensemen to be patient. Defensemen like to be aggressive,” Lewiston coach Bill Bodwell said. “The guys were patient tonight, and when you’re patient, you basically do a good job of keeping their guys to the outside.”

And the Devils’ attackers got to the crease early and often.

Sam Cloutier led Lewiston with five goals and one assist. Curtis Robinson registered four goals and two assists.

Chris Rancourt, Brandon Tiner and Elliot Chicoine each found the net in the first period to send the Devils on their way.

Both teams were coming off a watershed win over the weekend.

Lewiston rallied from three goals down to defeat Cape Elizabeth for the first time ever. The next day, Messalonskee broke through for its initial victory over 2009 Class A champion Portland.

“Lacrosse is definitely a momentum game,” Bodwell said, “We played smart. It was tough coming from Cape to this. I was kind of nervous all day.”

“It was tough, because we had a day off, and you never know what kids are going to do,” Patrie said. “Just sit around, or are they going to go out and get loose and stay loose and just get better?”

The Devils led 8-2 at halftime and shut out the Eagles in the third period to deny any illusions of a comeback.

Shots were even at 31 apiece, but Lewiston dictated the quality of Messalonskee’s opportunities from start to finish. Freshman Jake Smith made 12 saves for the Eagles.

“They stepped it up tonight,” Leeman said of his defense. “They gave me the opportunity to face what shots I want to see personally for a goalie, like outside shots, and I can just gobble those up.”

koakes@sunjournal.com