LEWISTON — It has been a season of firsts for the Lewiston boys’ soccer program.
The Blue Devils finished their first perfect season while winning their first state championship. All of that was done while being nationally ranked for the first time in the program’s history.
As if that weren’t enough, Lewiston continues to add to the milestones. The Blue Devils were recognized abundantly this week at the Maine Soccer Coaches All-Star Banquet.
Senior Abdi Shariff became Lewiston’s first All-American honoree Sunday, while he and teammate Maslah Hassan were the first Blue Devils to earn All-New England status. Coach Mike McGraw was recognized with Coach of the Year honors for the state as well as New England.
“It was like the perfect storm, so to speak,” McGraw said. “Both of them being selected to the All-Northern Maine team and both being selected All-New England and Abdi to be selected All-American, it’s just a fantastic honor for them and for the program. I think we’re very proud of them.”
It was early November when the Blue Devils beat Scarborough 1-0 in a thrilling Class A state championship game. Lewiston finished the year with a perfect 18-0 record and its first state title. The Blue Devils have been celebrating ever since. More than a month later, the program is still reaping rewards for a job well done.
“It hasn’t lost its luster,” McGraw said. “I’m still on Cloud Nine as far as winning the championship, because that’s what your goals are. I just appreciate everything that’s been done for my kids and everything that has made this a wonderful thing for Lewiston and Lewiston High School.”
Shariff has been a four-year starter that went on to become the school’s all-time leading scorer and most decorated player.
He scored 22 goals and 12 assists during the regular season this fall and added four more goals and two assists in the playoffs. He was the Sun Journal’s Player of the Year as well as being named KVAC Player of the Year. He’s been named to the Eastern/North Class A Regional Team and State Team the last two seasons. Shariff finished his career with 77 career goals, 68 in the regular season and nine in the playoffs. He was also named the Class A Player of the Year and the Senior Bowl North MVP, after scoring four goals.
Hassan scored 23 goals and had three more in the playoffs this season. He also set the school record with five goals in a game. Hassan finished his high school career with 69 goals and 29 assists. He has also been a Eastern/North Class A Regional Team and State Team selection the last two years.
The All-New England selections include the top three players in the state. Lewiston’s Abdulkarim Abdulle likely was in consideration as well. He was selected to the All-Northern Maine Team.
“I’m not sure a lot of people know this, but there have been games they didn’t play all 80 minutes,” McGraw said. “In the first half, with the score being 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0, in the second half, they’d hardly get any playing time.”
McGraw has been named the top coach in his conference in both the KVAC and SMAA. He was the Eastern A Coach of the Year last year. In addition to being this fall’s Northern A Coach of the Year, he was nominated for the NSCAA Region 1 Coach of the Year.
He’ll be competing against five other New England states for the region’s top coach. He was also unanimously chosen by the New England chairs and is nominated for the NSCAA National Coach of the Year honor. It is the first time McGraw has been nominated for either.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized by my peers and to be selected as Region I and be recognized by those coaches in New England is a tremendous honor,” McGraw said. “I’m thrilled with it. I’m also humbled by the fact that it’s bestowed upon me because it’s not just me. It’s my kids and it’s my coaches from grade seven all the way up. It’s the support of the community. When I accept any kind of award, those other people need to be recognized. It’s not just one person.”
Lewiston wasn’t the only local program recognized at the banquet. Buckfield’s Kyle Rines was named the South Boys’ Coach of the Year after leading the Bucks to their first regional title and 16-2 record.
Mt. Blue’s Eryn Doiron was selected to the Northern Girls’ State Team, while Lisbon’s Deliah Schreiber was chosen for the Southern Girls’ State Team.
kmills@sunjournal.com
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