Every time the Lewiston girls’ lacrosse team breaks into a passing drill at practice — and you can bet it’s every day, usually more than once — it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear Coach Butch Dow holler “Brunswick!”
Those back-and-forth, admittedly tedious walkthroughs might as well be named after the Dragons, because they certainly are inspired by them.
“Three years ago, when I was the JV coach, the varsity lost to Brunswick, I think it was 15-3. When I watched, what I picked up was their passing game,” Dow said. “It finally came full circle. All the dull drills I put them through, now they’re seeing the payoff.”
Lewiston broke through Monday with a 12-9 win at Brunswick. It was the Devils’ first victory over the Dragons in the history of the program.
“They’ve always had a dynasty,” Dow said.
Wednesday’s 10-8 triumph at Mt. Ararat left Lewiston at a lofty 6-2 heading into Friday’s trip to Camden Hills.
The Devils are in prime position to host an Eastern Class A quarterfinal playoff game for the second year in a row.
“I’m trying not to let them excel too much,” Dow said only half-jokingly. “I’m hoping they peak at the right time.”
So far, so good, thanks to eight seniors, including a three-year starting goaltender and an offense that is more balanced than ever.
Kelsey Dumond and Natalie Rousseau lead the Devils, who are averaging more than 11 goals per game and haven’t been held below six.
“They are some of the best attack we’ve ever had,” Dow said of the duo.
Laurianne Murphy’s emergence as a facilitator has made the front line even more dangerous.
“She leads a lot of our offense from behind the net. Even if you take away Natalie and Kelsey, she had four goals (against Mt. Ararat),” Dow said. “It’s good that we have a balance. You can’t say, ‘We’ll beat Lewiston if we shut down Kelsey.’ When one is shut down, the others pick it up.”
Sam Cote made the big saves to keep Brunswick and Mt. Ararat at arm’s length. Lewiston also had a one-goal win over Cony.
Messalonskee (8-0) and Cheverus (7-1) are the only schools ahead of Lewiston in the Heal Point standings.
The Stags, who play in the SMAA and don’t cross over with the KVAC during the regular season, knocked the Devils out of the playoffs a year ago.
Fans are allowed to talk about such numbers and potential future matchups. The Devils aren’t.
“Don’t look ahead,” Dow said of his current instructions to the team. “Don’t even think about the playoffs right now. If we take care of each game, it will help us later.”
Saints back in business
The St. Dom’s boys needed a win, any win, after starting the season 0-5.
They got three. Home victories over Mt. Blue, Mountain Valley and Lincoln — by an average of winning margin of double digits — moved the Saints out of unfamiliar residency in the Eastern Class B basement and right back into the heart of the playoff race.
“It took us a while to get on track,” first-year St. Dom’s coach Andy MacIsaac said. “I think (those games) really let us get on track now.”
St. Dom’s entered the season with a 36-game winning streak in the regular season.
Nobody made excuses for the reversal of fortune, but the Saints had valid ones.
MacIssac, formerly the coach at EL, was taking over from David Haefele after serving as an assistant in 2012.
Freshmen (five) outnumbered seniors (four) on the 16-man roster against Mt. Blue. And those seniors needed a week or two to get acclimated after a shortened preseason.
“Our (early-season) games are all delayed because our seniors go on that mission to Mississippi every year,” MacIsaac said.
Seniors Nick Hatfield and Dalton Lorenz have led the revival. Hatfield scored eight goals in the win over Mountain Valley.
Their day-to-day leadership has been equally crucial.
“We have a freshman and a sophomore goalie. And two or three other guys, even though they’re not freshmen, it’s the first time they’ve ever played lacrosse,” MacIsaac said.
The young Saints will be tested down the stretch against Class A Lewiston and Brunswick.
Eddies chasing points
Games against Messalonskee (5-3) and Maranacook/Winthrop (6-2 in Class B) may determine the Edward Little boys’ playoff fate.
EL entered Friday one spot out of the postseason mix in Eastern Class A. Close losses to Lewiston (5-3 and 4-3) and Mt. Ararat (6-5) have the Red Eddies on the outside looking in as the home stretch looms.
“We have the athletes and we have the players. We’re still learning our systems,” EL coach Steve Cobb said. “We have a new offensive system this year. We’re learning to gel. We’ve gone from individuals to team concepts.”
Good sign: EL erupted for 14 goals Wednesday — five more than its previous season high — in a win over Oxford Hills.
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