BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick High School boys’ soccer team got an emotional 1-0 victory over the Lewiston High School Blue Devils on Tuesday on the newly dedicated Peter Gardner soccer field, named after the longtime Brunswick boys’ soccer coach.

“It’s quite an emotional day, it’s so special,” Brunswick coach Peter Gardner said. “I never expected it to happen like this. It’s just an incredible feeling.”

The kids knew how important the game was to playoff seeding, as well as to their coach who has been with the school in some capacity for 43 years.

“It’s huge to win on his first game on the dedicated field,” said Brunswick sophomore Ryan Black.

After an early chance by Brunswick at the five-minute mark, when the ball sailed wide past the far upper-ninety, it was sophomore Ryan Black who lofted the ball past Lewiston goalie Eric Soucy in the 19th minute of the first half.

“Konnor Scarponi gave me a ball and it was bouncing, and I chipped it over the goalie,” Black said. “I immediately knew it was going in.

“It was a good feeling.”

Gardner said the team continues to build confidence that they have built the last few games.

“The last three or four games, they have played really well,” Gardner said. “I think the fact they played really well and have confidence how to do things. I think that has helped them a real great deal.”

The Dragons (7-3-4) continued the pressure three minutes later. Zack Lavoie’s shot bounced over the crossbar.

“We don’t normally play that way, but we decided we had to do that to relieve the pressure on our defense,” Gardner said of using the long kicks to kick-start the offense.

Lewiston’s best chance happened late in the first half when Eric Michard’s chip shot bounced over the crossbar.

The Blue Devils (11-2-1) felt the urgency in the second half to tie the game by attacking the penalty box, but Brunswick’s defense defended the box, and limited the Blue Devils to shots around the 18-yard marker.

The Blue Devils thought they tied it up with 7:30 remaining, but Brunswick goalkeeper Greg Walton made a leaping save to secure the victory.

“It was just a reaction,” Walton said. “I have played all year and it’s just reactions to everything.”

He made six saves in the game.

Gardner hopes the win will lead to a long playoff run for his seniors

With the win, Brunswick moved up from sixth place to fifth in the Maine Principle Association’s Eastern Class A Heal Point standings. Lewiston remains atop the standings. The playoffs start Saturday with the preliminary round and the quarterfinals next Wednesday.

Playoff matchups have yet to be determined.

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