Dan Brannigan’s job interview and first team meeting for Oak Hill boys’ lacrosse were equally awkward.

Brannigan, an alumnus of the program and a senior at Thomas College, told anyone who would listen that his minimum expectations for the Raiders would be a KVAC championship.

The sound of the crickets was deafening.

“They kind of looked at me like, ‘You know we only won three games last year, right?’” Brannigan recalled.

Being the best team in its section of Eastern Class B might not happen this year, but there’s no question that Oak Hill is headed in the right direction under its rookie coach.

On the heels of an undefeated preseason, the Raiders won three of their first four league games before a solid showing Wednesday in a 12-4 loss to powerful St. Dom’s.

Success and playoff appearances are the spring norm for Brannigan.

He was part of the 2008 Oak Hill team that made the school’s most recent journey to the KVAC title game before three down years. He also played defense as a junior at Thomas for the team that achieved the Terriers’ first-ever North Atlantic Conference playoff victory in 2011.

“They had three wins last year. We already have three regular-season wins and we beat two teams in the preseason,” Brannigan said. “They have the talent. They just need the direction.”

Oak Hill’s 30-man roster is characterized by only three seniors but an impressive 13 juniors. Scoring leaders Caleb Provost, Trever Samson and Jon Averill all have another year of eligibility.

The Raiders also have an outstanding long-term goalkeeping prospect in freshman Matt Martin, who began playing the demanding position in eighth grade. Martin made 10 saves against undefeated St. Dom’s.

Another freshman, Kyle Flaherty, scored two of Oak Hill’s four goals.

“My team held it together at the end. They put a goal in with 30 seconds left,” Brannigan said. “They did not quit, and that was one of the things I was trying to drive home.”

Brannigan is the Raiders’ third different coach in as many seasons, but his youth and previous connection to the school suggest that he will be around to fulfill those lofty goals.

“I was just playing last year, so I know what it’s like to be out there,” he said.

Saints stay strong

The St. Dom’s boys have won 28 consecutive regular-season games. The Saints are undefeated in league play since joining the KVAC. They haven’t tasted defeat since the 2009 finale against Greely.

Such successful programs usually have athletes knocking down the doors to share in the glory. The Saints’ numbers actually are down from two seasons ago, however. Twenty-one players are in uniform, including five freshmen.

“What we do is try to have a basic set when the younger guys are in,” St. Dom’s coach Dave Haefele said. “We have a little bit different set when the more experienced guys are in, something they’re more used to. They have a couple of set plays they use rather than with the younger guys where we try to keep them rotating.”

Troy Haefele and Anthony Fagone provide the senior presence at attack. They combined for five goals in Tuesday’s win at Oak Hill.

But St. Dom’s also got a hat trick from Grant Carrier, a junior in only his second year of lacrosse. Another junior, Will Desmarais, is a rookie to the sport. He has navigated the learning curve quickly, as evidenced by a goal and tireless defensive play Tuesday.

Desmarais has logged five goals and two assists while scooping up 11 ground balls to date.

“He’s really taken to it from hockey, on both sides,” Dave Haefele said. “That’s why he’s such a good (midfielder), because he can play good defense, and offensively his stick is coming around.”

St. Dom’s best hope of competing with traditional powers Yarmouth and NYA when the playoffs arrive may be the presence of four-year starter Cody Rodrigue in the cage.

“Cody is one of the best in the state, even including Southern Maine,” said his coach.

Logjam in girls’ ‘A’

One-quarter of the way through the season, and one-third of the teams in Eastern Class A/KVAC girls’ lacrosse remain undefeated.

It wouldn’t take many hints to guess Brunswick (3-0) as one of the elite. The Dragons have won five of the six Eastern A titles awarded in the brief history of the sport in Maine.

What might raise the eyebrows, however, is seeing locals Oxford Hills (4-0) and Lewiston (3-0) among the elite along with Cony (3-0).

Neither the Vikings nor the Devils advanced to the playoffs in any of the past three seasons. With the number of invitations increasing from 50 to 67 percent this spring, each is well on its way to a postseaosn berth.

Oxford Hills has a pair of two-goal victories over Edward Little and Mountain Valley to its credit. Lewiston has moved up the ladder in more resounding fashion, averaging 18 goals per game.

Each will face arguably its most serious test to date this afternoon. Lewiston is at Brunswick for a 4:30 showdown. Oxford Hills hosts Mt. Ararat at 4 p.m. The Eagles are 0-2 but the losses are to Cony and Brunswick, including a 10-9 verdict against the rival Dragons.

[email protected]